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AmCham Bids Farewell to AIT Director Brent Christensen

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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.

In Memory of James F. O’Hearn, 1935-2019

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Jim O’Hearn, one of the most prominent members of the AmCham Taipei leadership in the 1980s and 90s, passed away in Arizona on November 14 at the age of 84. He served as Chairman (the position was then called President) of the Chamber in 1991 and 1992. Previously he had been a member of the Board of Governors, chairman of the Chemical Manufacturers Committee, Hsieh Nien Fan emcee in 1983, and Christmas Ball emcee in 1981, 1985, and 1988.

His day job was President of Premier Chemical Co., a subsidiary of Uniroyal Chemical Co. specializing in chemicals for the rubber industry. Jim is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sabrina, children Kevin and Claudine, and four grandchildren.

AmCham Taipei Called on Taiwanese Government Leaders

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AmCham Taipei delegations in recent weeks called on Taiwanese government leaders, including President Tsai Ing-wen and Premier Su Tseng-chang, to brief them on the Chamber’s CEO Mission to Washington, D.C. in June. The session with the Premier was also attended by representatives of other departments within the Executive Yuan, including Minister Chen Mei-ling of the National Development Council. Other recent meetings were with Foreign Minister David Lee and Minister without Portfolio and Chief Trade Negotiator John Deng.

The AmCham delegations at the meetings were led by Chairman Leo Seewald and President William Foreman, and included other members of the Chamber leadership and staff who participated in the visit to Washington.

The briefings focused on the key objectives of this year’s CEO Mission:

  • Helping to lay the groundwork for eventual FTA negotiations between the U.S. and Taiwan.
  • Encouraging early resumption of the bilateral TIFA process, including scheduling of a TIFA Council meeting.
  • Urging the U.S. to send high-level (especially Cabinet-level) officials on visits to Taiwan more frequently.

Although the CEO Mission did not encounter any immediate breakthroughs on these issues, it came away encouraged by an increasingly positive atmosphere in Washington regarding relations with Taiwan.

Leadership Meeting with House Foreign Affairs Committee Representatives

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Over breakfast on Sept. 1 at Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, members of the AmCham Taipei leadership met with a delegation from the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee led by Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and also including Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL), chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, and Rep. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR).

The members of Congress reiterated their support for continued strengthening of U.S.-Taiwan ties in the areas of both national security and economic cooperation.

Following a briefing by Chamber Chairman Albert Chang on the current business climate in Taiwan, Lin Kiat Yap of Micron gave a report on challenges facing the Taiwan semiconductor industry (a key part of the supply chain for many leading U.S. tech companies) and Wayne Chin of Bechtel provided a presentation on behalf of the Energy Committee and Infrastructure & Engineering Committee.

September 1, 2017 – Leadership Meeting with House Foreign Affairs Committee Representatives at Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel

 

2017 Doorknock Delegation to Washington

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AmCham Taipei’s 2017 Doorknock visit to Washington D.C. from June 26 to 30 conducted a total of 45 meetings with U.S. government executive branch agencies (including the State Department, Commerce Department, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative), Congressional offices, think tanks, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Taipei Economic & Cultural Representative office in the U.S. (TECRO), and others interested in the U.S.-Taiwan economic relationship.

Delegation members with U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, Congressman Ed Royce

The group was led by Chamber Chairman Albert Chang, Vice Chair Dan Silver, and President Andrea Wu, and also included Raghavendra Shenoy, co-chair of the Medical Devices Committee, Board Supervisor, and General Manager of Johnson & Johnson Medical Taiwan Ltd.; Jenny Zheng, co-chair of the Pharmaceutical Committee and Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Taiwan Ltd.; Emily Chiang of Medtronic (Taiwan) Ltd.; Stephen Y. Tan of K&L Gates; William Vocke of the Foundation for Scholarly Exchange (Fulbright Taiwan); Lynn Cinelli of MSD Taiwan; Don Shapiro, AmCham Taipei Senior Director; and Amy Chang, AmCham Taipei Senior Director for Government & Public Affairs. They were joined for various meetings by the Washington representatives of such member companies as Bechtel, Cigna, Dell, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck, and Microsoft.

Delegation members with Congressman Ted Yoho

AmCham Taipei Chairman Albert Chang with Congressman Ted Yoho

“A lot has changed in Washington since the Trump administration took office, including a new emphasis on targeting U.S. trade deficits with its trading partners, so it was very useful for us to hear from people first-hand about their expectations for the U.S.-Taiwan relationship,” said Andrea Wu. “For the most part, we heard a hard line on outstanding trade issues from the executive agencies, but tempered by widespread expressions of support for Taiwan from members of Congress.”

Team members with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden

A full report on the Doorknock will appear in the August issue of Taiwan Business TOPICS, both the print and online editions.

Leadership Meeting with AIT Chairman James Moriarty

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During his latest visit to Taiwan, the U.S.-based chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan, Ambassador James Moriarty, exchanged views with members of the AmCham Taipei leadership today at a breakfast discussion. The two sides discussed the relationship between the United States and Taiwan, including economic ties, as well as regional issues.

AmCham leaders also briefed the AIT chairman on such subjects as the Chamber’s 2017 Business Climate Survey, difficulties for companies and employees caused by recent revisions in the Labor Standards Law, and prospective business opportunities arising from the government’s Asia·Silicon Valley plan to promote the digital economy.

Attending the meeting from AIT Taipei were Economic Section Chief Jeff Horwitz, Commercial Section Chief Ireas Cook, and Economic Section Deputy Chief Michael Pignatello. Representing AmCham were President Andrea Wu, Vice Chairman Daniel Tseng, Government Relations Committee Co-chair Paul Cassingham, AmCham Secretary and IP&L Committee Co-chair Vincent Shih, AmCham Governor Leo Seewald, AmCham Supervisor and Travel & Tourism Committee Co-chair Anita Chen, Retail Committee Co-chair Mark Chen, Sustainable Development Committee Co-chair Kenny Jeng, Senior Director and Taiwan Business TOPICS Editor-in-chief Don Shapiro, and Senior Director for Government & Public Affairs Amy Chang.

Post-Doorknock High-level Meetings

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Following the annual AmCham Taipei Doorknock visit to Washington D.C., the Chamber leadership each year holds a round of meetings with high-ranking government officials to brief them on the results of the trip.

On July 27, a Chamber delegation led by Chairman Dan Silver met with Premier Lin Chuan at the Executive Yuan, discussing such issues as prospects for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, regulatory coherence, energy policy, labor-related regulations, and the investment climate. Also in attendance were representatives from the National Development Council, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Labor.

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Similar delegations called on Secretary General Joseph Wu of the National Security Council on August 5 and on Vice Minister Leo Lee, substituting for Minister David Lee, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 8.

Additional meetings with other government ministries and relevant organizations are being scheduled

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