AmCham Taiwan Supports Taiwan’s Strategic Economic Role with the United States

TAIPEI, Taiwan – The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan continues to stress Taiwan’s indispensable role in the U.S. economy, calling for continued strengthening of U.S.-Taiwan trade and economic relations.

AmCham Taiwan urges policymakers in both Washington and Taipei to continue fostering this mutually beneficial relationship. In a time of growing geopolitical complexity, the U.S.-Taiwan partnership is not only a driver of shared economic prosperity but also central to supply chain security and regional stability.

Taiwan is now firmly established as the seventh-largest trading partner of the United States, reflecting the deeply intertwined nature of the U.S.-Taiwan economic partnership. Taiwan is a critical supplier of high-value, capital-intensive products essential to American industries – including semiconductors, ICT products, and machinery – that cannot rapidly be produced at scale elsewhere. In return, America exports to Taiwan significant volumes of agricultural products, aircraft, and industrial machinery, with minimal competition from domestic Taiwanese producers.

The trade relationship is further complemented by robust investment flows. As of 2022, Taiwanese cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) in the U.S. reached US$17.1 billion, and in the first 10 months of 2024 alone, Taiwan invested US$13.97 billion in the United States – accounting for 30.8% of Taiwan’s total outbound investment during that period.

Additionally, Taiwan is a significant holder of U.S. government debt, with US$256 billion in U.S. Treasury securities as of January 2024, ranking among the top 10 foreign holders globally. This underpins the structural flow of capital into the U.S. economy and reinforces the resilience of U.S. financial markets.

Beyond the trade balance, Taiwan’s economic model is fundamentally complementary to the United States. With constant reinvestment into the U.S. economy, Taiwan helps support American jobs, financial markets, and supply chain resilience. Taiwan’s position as the world leader in advanced semiconductor manufacturing – producing over 90% of the world’s cutting-edge chips – plays a vital role in maintaining the competitiveness of U.S. industries in technology, automotive, aerospace, and defense.

10 Facts About U.S.-Taiwan Trade Relations

1. Seventh-Largest Trading Partner: Taiwan ranked as the 7th-largest goods trading partner of the United States in 2024, with total trade reaching US$158.6 billion, a year-on-year increase of 24.2%.
2. Surging Bilateral Trade: Bilateral trade between Taiwan and the U.S. continued to grow in 2024, with Taiwan’s exports rising by 32.5% to US$116.26 billion, reflecting deepening economic integration and strong demand for high-tech products essential to both economies.
3. Agricultural Trade Partner: Taiwan is one of the top export markets globally for U.S. agricultural products, including soybeans, corn, beef, and dairy.
4. Strong Importer of U.S. Goods: U.S. exports to Taiwan totaled US$42.34 billion in 2024, an increase of 6% over the previous year. Major categories include agricultural goods, aircraft, and machinery.
5. Two-Way Investment Partnership: Taiwan is a major investor in the U.S. economy, with cumulative Taiwanese foreign direct investment (FDI) reaching US$17.1 billion as of 2022. In 2024, Taiwan invested an additional US$13.97 billion in the U.S., accounting for 30.8% of Taiwan’s total outbound investment.
6. Financial Markets: Taiwan held approximately US$256 billion in U.S. Treasury securities as of January 2024, ranking among the top 10 foreign holders and contributing to U.S. financial stability.
7. Supply Chain Integration: Taiwan is a critical partner in the global technology supply chain, responsible for over 90% of the world’s advanced semiconductor manufacturing capacity.
8. Educational Exchange: Taiwan is a major source of international students in the United States, ranking as the 6th-largest source of higher education international students in 2022. This educational exchange strengthens long-term people-to-people ties.
9. Strategic Economic Alignment: Taiwan continuously reinvests in the U.S. economy, supporting American industries, jobs, and capital markets while advancing shared democratic and economic values.
10. State-Level Economic Ties: 23 U.S. states operate trade and investment offices in Taiwan, reflecting strong subnational economic engagement and creating new opportunities for American businesses.

Media contacts:

Julia Bergström (EN)
Director of Publications & Communications
02-27188226 ext. 632
[email protected]

Christine Huang (CH)
Communications Manager
02-27188226 ext. 313
[email protected]