2021 Pharmaceutical Position Paper

AmCham Hosts COVID-19 Webinar with Taipei City Government

The recent COVID-19 outbreak in Taiwan has had a major impact on the business community in Taipei. To provide members with the latest information regarding safety and relief measures for companies operating in Taipei, AmCham hosted a webinar on June 18 with Taipei City Deputy Mayor Tsai Ping-kun and Commissioner for External Affairs Ambassador Tom T.C. Chou. Joining them were Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs Adam Yi and Taipei City Hospital Deputy Chief Superintendent Hsu Chia-Chen. The event was moderated by Microsoft Taiwan’s General Manager of Corporate, External and Legal Affairs Vincent Shih.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Mayor Tsai noted that the recent outbreak brought many challenges to Taipei and impacted the economy, particularly the hotel and service industries. By balancing pandemic prevention and economic assistance, Taipei City Government has largely mitigated relevant risks. Tsai stressed the importance of contact tracing and expressed optimism regarding Taiwan’s ability to keep infection rates low until a majority of the population has been vaccinated. He also extended his gratitude to the U.S. government for their donation of vaccines to Taiwan.

During the Q&A session, Yi informed members that the Taipei City government has offered relief measures for small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as support for revitalization and adaptation to “the new normal.” Furthermore, foreigners who have lived in Taipei for at least one year can apply for government subsidies. Yi also noted that loans for SMEs, which are distributed from the National Development Fund and the Small & Medium Enterprise Credit Guarantee Fund (SMEG), are available to both local and foreign firms.

Regarding vaccinations, Tsai said that Taiwan was expecting good news regarding international deliveries and referred attendees to the list of vaccination priority groups to determine whether they are eligible for their shot. The government is currently designing an English-language version of Taipei’s vaccine registration system to accommodate the approximately 70,000 foreigners living in Taipei.

Answering a question about school policies during the pandemic, Ambassador Chou stressed the volatility of the current situation but noted that Taipei schools will reopen in September, either in-person or online, regardless of the pandemic situation. Currently, 170,000 students in Taipei are taking online classes, and the government supports underprivileged students by providing them with laptops, tablets, sim cards, and routers on an as-needed basis.

Closing the event, AmCham Taiwan President Andrew Wylegala thanked Taipei City Government for answering the members’ questions and stressed the importance of continued dialogue between government and industry, particularly during the pandemic.

Interested in attending our events? Join us at other upcoming events, click here.

Note: AmCham events are intended primarily for AmCham members and their guests. Many events are open to members’ guests and other non-members, but the attendance of any non-member must be approved in advance. AmCham reserves the right not to admit a non-member to any event without explanation.

AmCham Bids Farewell to AIT Director Brent Christensen

Although the ongoing Level 3 pandemic restrictions prevented an in-person meeting, AmCham Taiwan leadership and AIT were able to connect virtually this week for their regular quarterly meeting. It was a somewhat bittersweet gathering as AIT Director Brent Christensen, whose tenure has seen many positive developments in U.S.-Taiwan relations and who has forged a particularly strong connection between AIT and AmCham, will soon be leaving his post. The meeting was thus an opportunity for everyone to say goodbye to the director and express their gratitude for his admirable stewardship over the past few years.

Nevertheless, the mood was celebratory as Board members recalled positive interactions with Director Christensen and asked him thought-provoking questions about rapidly warming U.S.-Taiwan economic ties, as well as opportunities for Taiwan to enhance its international presence. The group discussed the exciting announcement last week that the U.S. and Taiwan will soon be resuming Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks, as well as the promised donation to Taiwan of 750,000 vaccines from the U.S.’ surplus supply.

AmCham Taiwan thanks Director Christensen for his years of service at AIT and his efforts in highlighting the critical role Taiwan plays in the world economy, as well as its importance to U.S. economic interests in the region. As he has repeatedly stated in recent years, the relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan is one of “real friends, real progress.” AmCham looks forward to working closely with his successor to continue enhancing that relationship and ensuring that Taiwan remains a great destination for investing and doing business.

BTA Coalition Letter to United States Trade Representative

AmCham Chairperson CW Chin was delighted to awake to the announcement from U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Minister John Deng that Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFA) talks will be re-starting shortly, fulfilling a long-standing request of the 1,021 members of our Chamber.

TIFA talks not only remove impediments to two-way trade and investment but also set strategic direction for business development. It is entirely fitting that announcement of the TIFA re-start should coincide with another successful SelectUSA Annual Investment Summit, in virtual form this year, to which Taiwan – yet again – contributed the world’s largest single delegation. Frameworks like the TIFA, a plurilateral digital trade accord or an FTA, are only meaningful to the extent that private sector actors like AmCham Taiwan breath life – and jobs – into them.

AmCham Taiwan stands ready to join with our business partners and allies in the U.S.-Taiwan Bilateral Trade Agreement Coalition to build on the impetus provided by Ambassador Tai and Minister Deng.

On June 8, 2021, BTA Coalition members the US-Taiwan Business Council and the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan sent a joint letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai. In the letter, they conveyed the resumption of discussions under TIFA and a U.S.-Taiwan Bilateral Trade agreement. 

While restarting TIFA talks is an indispensable first win, the two organizations – representing American business interests in Taiwan on both sides of the Pacific – encouraged Ambassador Tai to announce her intention to initiate Bilateral Trade Agreement talks as soon as feasible.

Please see a copy of the letter below.

 

COVID-19 Prevention for Foreign Offices and Foreign Businesses

AmCham had the pleasure to attend a virtual conference entitled, “COVID-19 Prevention Virtual Conference for Foreign Offices and Foreign Businesses” hosted by the Taipei City Government. Speakers from the Taipei City Government included External Affairs Commissioner Tom Chou, Department of Finance Deputy Commissioner Hu Hsiao-lan, and Department of Economic Development Deputy Commissioner. The program highlighted Taipei City’s epidemic prevention and relief measures, as well as provided useful resources for foreign businesses in Taipei.

See the full presentation below:

AmCham Hosts COVID-19 Webinar with InvesTaiwan CEO Emile Chang

The recent COVID-19 outbreak in Taiwan has caused much apprehension among Taiwan’s local and international business communities. To address some of their concerns, AmCham hosted a webinar on June 7 with InvesTaiwan CEO Emile Chang, who spoke to Chamber members about the pandemic’s impact on foreign businesses and investment in Taiwan. The event was moderated by Facebook Taiwan Public Policy Manager Max Chen.

In his opening remarks, Chang noted that when the recent outbreak occurred in Taiwan, a new work model began to develop based on the experiences of other countries hit harder by the pandemic last year. This model involved remote business meetings, as well as increased logistics and food delivery services, and the continuity of operations of supply chains.

The shift to work-from-home and rotating A and B work teams has progressed relatively smoothly, and the InvesTaiwan office’s operations have largely been unaffected in terms of productivity, Chang said. He highlighted that InvesTaiwan continues to provide a single service window for foreign business entities.

During the Q&A session, Chang said that if Level 4 restrictions were implemented in Taiwan, all government entities would maintain operations, with 70% of staff working from home and the remaining 30% going into the office. He stressed that InvesTaiwan is streamlining its workflows during the current Level 3 restrictions.

Chang also noted that operations of manufacturers in Taiwan’s science parks are of high priority for the government and that those operating outside the parks should plan according to their needs and submit their proposed plans to the government.

When asked how Taiwan can continue attracting foreign capital under the current circumstances, Chang said that InvesTaiwan is optimistic regarding Taiwan’s capacity to quickly bring the virus under control and continue its quest for more vaccines.

InvesTaiwan and other government entities are prepared to assist foreign businesses with difficulties arising from the outbreak, Chang said. Priority will be given to enabling the entrance of foreign talent as soon as the situation improves. In response to questions on how SMEs owned by foreign nationals can apply for COVID-19 relief loans, Chang said InvesTaiwan will reach out to the Commerce Department and Industrial Development Bureau for further information.

In response to a member’s question, Chang said that individuals who do not display active symptoms should avoid rapid-testing centers due to the risk of contagion at such sites. However, companies may apply for need-based large-scale rapid screenings.

Chang also noted that the Ministry of Health and Welfare arranges vaccinations, and the central government coordinates distribution in order of priority. Companies are advised to monitor the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) website and press releases and, if possible, maintain communication with the CDC.

In his closing remarks, Chang extended his compliments and gratitude to AmCham members and other foreign enterprises for their cooperation in the government’s efforts to control the virus and return to normalcy. He concluded that InvesTaiwan would continue providing work opportunities and lifetime business services.

Latest information about vaccine policy in Taiwan

Over the weekend, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that businesses that wish to import COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan must first entrust an authorized pharmaceutical company to apply for approval from Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (TFDA).

The point of contact for companies that are ready to file a COVID-19 vaccine import application is the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB): 0800-000-257. Please only contact the IDB once you have confirmed a source for the vaccines and are ready to seek assistance with the application process. For general information, please refer to the CECC website.

*Companies may indicate in their proposal whether a certain number or percentage of the vaccines should be reserved for the company’s staff and their family. The TFDA will take into account such information when reviewing the application.

**Please note that this translation is prepared by AmCham, not the Taiwan government.

Other useful information:

Former Ambassador Kurt Tong Briefs AmCham Leaders

When AmCham Taiwan conducts its Doorknock missions to Washington, D.C., Kurt Tong is the kind of expert on U.S. Asia policy that the delegation seeks out for advice on its dealings with the U.S. government. A former U.S. Ambassador to APEC and Counsel-General in Hong Kong, Tong is now in the private sector as a partner at The Asia Group, a Washington-based strategic advisory firm founded by Kurt Campbell, currently the Biden Administration’s top official for Asia.

In a “virtual Doorknock” necessitated by the COVID pandemic, Tong shared his views on U.S.-Taiwan relations via video conference with 18 members of the AmCham Board and staff on May 25. The topics covered included the Biden Administration’s priorities with regard to Asia policy, trade policy, and the protection of sophisticated technology supply chains. Tong encouraged the Chamber to be “forceful and direct” in communicating its advocacy agenda to the U.S. government, including the need for early resumption of the “TIFA talks” trade negotiations.