AmCham Releases 2021 White Paper and Introduces the Taiwan Commercial Initiative
At a virtual press conference today for release of the 2021 Taiwan White Paper, the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (AmCham) introduced plans for a Taiwan Commercial Initiative (TCI) designed to bring Taiwan-U.S. economic relations to a new level culminating in a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
After reporting a record-setting 13 resolved issues from last year’s White Paper, AmCham Chairperson CW Chin and President Andrew Wylegala highlighted the publication’s Messages to Washington section focusing on the TCI as a transformative six-track, strategic approach to enhancing U.S.-Taiwan economic and business ties.
The first TCI track has in fact already been accomplished through the recent announcement by the two governments that Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) council meetings would soon be resumed. The Chamber had vigorously advocated resumption of the talks since their suspension four years ago. TCI also urges expansion of the Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue (EPPD) initiated by the State Department last November by encompassing business participation. In addition, it calls for the U.S. Department of Commerce and Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs to develop transaction-oriented, public-private platforms to promote two-way trade and investment, Taiwan’s inclusion in new and existing plurilateral economic agreement, and conclusion of a U.S.-Taiwan double-taxation pact. These overlapping workstreams are seem as reinforcing one another and paving the way for the sixth and final goal: a U.S.-Taiwan BTA.
Stressing the importance of this new initiative, Wylegala said “the stars are aligning for a sharp upgrade in U.S.-Taiwan economic relations. Through the TCI, AmCham is calling for more platforms and more private sector involvement.
While 25 of AmCham’s industry committees provided sector-specific suggestions, their position papers also underscored several pressing issues that impact both local and international businesses. These concerns include acceleration of Taiwan’s digital transformation, bolstering its supply chains, and ensuring a stable supply of energy as the government proceeds to transform Taiwan’s energy mix by 2025.
In order to continue improving Taiwan’s image as an internationally oriented economy and a great place to do business, the Chamber also provided suggestions for the Taiwan government on how to meet its goal of becoming bilingual by 2030. It also advocated for the creation of a sovereign wealth fund that would draw on Taiwan’s large foreign reserves and increase its international profile.
The AmCham White Paper also praised Taiwan and its leaders for maintaining one of the world’s only expanding economies in 2020, presenting a model of vibrant democratic governance, and ably handling the COVID-19 pandemic while making generous donations of medical equipment to countries around the world. In return, the Chamber noted, Taiwan deserves to be able to secure a steady supply of vaccines to protect its population. In the wake of the recent local outbreak of COVID-19 in Taiwan, AmCham strongly called on the U.S. government to allocate more U.S. surplus vaccines to Taiwan and facilitate delivery from other sources.
“Over the coming few years,” Chairperson Chin told the media, “we are likely to see the biggest and most positive transformation in Taiwan’s economic links to the world since the Taiwan Relations Act in the 1970s or entry into the WTO in the 2000s. AmCham is eager to play its part.”
About AmCham Taiwan
Founded in 1951, AmCham Taiwan strives to improve Taiwan’s business environment, making it more open, innovative and prosperous. With over 1,000 members from more than 500 international companies, the non-profit, independent organization serves as a vital bridge between the U.S. and Taiwan. The White Paper has been published annually for the past 25 years.
For more information, please contact:
Jack Lu
Manager of Government & Public Affairs
[email protected]
+886-2-2718-8226 Ext. 213
Gwenyth Wang-Reeves, PhD
Senior Director of Government & Public Affairs
[email protected]
+886-2-2718-8226 ext.314
台灣美國商會發布《2021台灣白皮書》及「台灣商業計畫」
今(23)日台灣美國商會透過線上記者會,發布《2021台灣白皮書》及「台灣商業計畫(Taiwan Commercial Initiative, TCI)」,其旨在透過簽訂雙邊貿易協定(Bilateral Trade Agreement, BTA)提升美台經貿關係。
繼日前公布去年《2020台灣白皮書》中有13項議題獲得「完全解決」的成果,打破過往紀錄,台灣美國商會會長金奇偉與執行長魏立安強調,在白皮書「對美國政府的期待」章中節所聚焦的「台灣商業計畫」,是一項具有變革性、透過六項策略路徑以強化美台經濟與商業關係的策略計畫。
「台灣商業計畫」中的第一個路徑已在最近雙方政府宣布於近日重啟「貿易暨投資架構協定」(Trade and Investment Framework Agreement , TIFA)後獲得實現。自四年前貿易暨投資架構協定暫停以來,商會便積極地推動重啟對談。「台灣商業計畫」呼籲美國國務院,擴大去年11月啟動的「經濟繁榮夥伴對話」(Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue, EPPD),涵括更多民間企業參與。此外,商會籲請美國商務部與台灣經濟部共同發展以貿易為導向的公私協力平台,以促進雙邊的貿易與投資,將台灣納入既有與嶄新的多邊經貿對話以及簽訂美台租稅協定。這些互有重疊的任務能夠相輔相成,齊為促成台灣商業計畫的第六項與最終目標—簽訂美台貿易協定。
魏立安執行長特別強調這項新計畫的重要性並表示,美台關係正朝向相當積極正面的方向發展。透過「台灣商業計畫」,台灣美國商會呼籲更多平台與私部門共襄盛舉。
商會25個委員會針對相關產業提出的建言中,亦強調數項對於本地與國際產業相當急迫且具有影響力的議題,包含:加速台灣數位轉型、強化供應鏈,以及敦促政府在推動2025能源轉型之際必須確保穩定能源供給。
為繼續提升台灣作為國際化經濟體和適宜經商的形象,商會對於台灣政府如何達成「2030雙語國家政策發展藍圖」提出建言,同時倡議政府應運用台灣龐大的外匯存底設立主權基金,並提升台灣國際形象。
《2021台灣白皮書》中更讚揚台灣與其領導者,在2020年讓台灣成為世界上少數依然成長的經濟體,除了展現充滿活力的民主治理,在出色地應對COVID-19疫情之際仍慷慨的捐贈醫療設備予其他國家。為感謝台灣,商會希冀台灣能獲得更穩定的疫苗供給以保護社會大眾。有鑒於近期台灣本土COVID-19疫情,商會強烈呼籲美國政府分配更多國內充沛的疫苗給台灣,並增加其他疫苗供給來源。
金奇偉會長對媒體表示,未來幾年內我們很可能看到,台灣與全球經濟連結將經歷自1970年代台灣關係法簽訂甚至2002年加入世界貿易組織以來最大、最正面的轉變,同時商會亦期待能躬逢其盛,盡綿薄之力。
關於台灣美國商會
美國商會成立於 1951 年,宗旨為努力促進台灣商業環境,使台灣更為開放、創新與繁榮。商會目前有超過 1,000 位個人會員,代表超過 500 家企業,在促進美台交流扮演關鍵角色。每年出版的《台灣白皮書》至今已邁入第 25 年。
媒體聯絡人:
盧恩廣 (Jack Lu)
政府及公共事務部經理
[email protected]
+886-2-2718-8226 Ext. 213
王珮馨 (Gwenyth Wang-Reeves, PhD)
政府及公共事務部/資深總監
[email protected]
+886-2-2718-8226 ext.314