Compared with last year, a much larger proportion of the Chamber’s member companies are optimistic about Taiwan’s economic performance over the next 12 months, as well as the next three years. Almost half also viewed the U.S.-China trade dispute as having a mostly positive impact on their business in Taiwan. Even after the initial COVID-19 outbreak occurred partway through the survey period, executives completing the survey after this development still maintained an upbeat attitude.

A year ago, survey-takers were worried about the potential consequences on world trade of the U.S.-China trade dispute. But this year’s survey found that fewer than 11% of respondents considered that the trade dispute had had a large impact on their business, and nearly half regarded the net effect of the U.S.-China dispute as positive for Taiwan, due to the return of manufacturing investment to Taiwan.

While a much lower number of respondents expressed dissatisfaction this year with the government’s attention to the interests and needs of the business community, some lingering issues, such as future energy supply, labor policies on working hours and overtime, and the regulatory framework, continue to cause concern.

Respondents urged the early resumption of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks between Taiwan and the U.S., as well as progress by the two sides toward bilateral trade, investment, and tax agreements.

The results were released at a press conference, followed by a membership luncheon, on March 4.

The online survey, which had a 50.3% response rate, polled 391 AmCham business leaders between Jan. 14 and Feb. 17, 2020.