Posts

Spotlight on Resilience #6: Homeland Security Investigations 101

In this Webinar, Brian E. Sherota, Supervisory Special Agent of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI Taipei), will discuss the challenges and opportunities of opening HSI’s newest overseas office, providing AmCham members a rare opportunity to ask questions and know more about HSI’s investigative activities and liaison responsibilities for the public and private sector in Taiwan.

Resources:

HSI 101 – AmCham Spotlight on Resilience Webinar

Spotlight on Resilience #5: Compliance Challenges in China

US and western companies face significant challenges in ensuring that they are compliant with restrictions on doing business with Chinese companies that provide military end-use products/services, employ forced labor, appear on US sanctions lists for other reasons. Uncovering military ties, connections to sanctioned entities, and use of forced labor in supply chains is a daunting, time consuming task and one that requires specialized knowledge. In this Webinar, Thys DeBruyn and his team will discuss these challenges, reveal best practice methodologies, and offer insights on leveraging compliance intelligence in competitive scenarios.

Register here.

Spotlight on Resilience #4: US-China Policies and ICT Supply Chains

The August visit to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the large-scale Chinese naval exercises around the island that followed significantly raised tensions, fueling concern about further coercive moves from Beijing, including possible military action. In our next “Spotlight on Resilience” webinar, Christopher Millward, President and Managing Director of the United States Information Technology Office (USITO), will break down recent developments affecting regional ICT supply chains, analyze China’s evolving stance and policy toolbox, and provide implications on forward planning. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, November 22, from 11am (Taiwan time).

Register here.

AmChams of Asia Pacific – 2022 Virtual Doorknock US Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Trade on Protecting Manufacturing and Supply Chains from Forced Labor

This AAP series is designed to give the members of the AmChams of Asia Pacific direct access to the decision and policy makers and thought leaders on what is happening in Washington, DC, as well as to give the members the opportunity to give their first-hand perspective on what is happening in the region.

US Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Trade on Protecting Manufacturing and Supply Chains from Forced Labor

Tuesday, October 25, 8am – 9am (GMT+8)

Speakers:

Eric Choy, Acting Executive Director Trade Remedy Law Enforcement, Office of Trade at CBP

Annmarie Highsmith, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade at CBP

John Leonard, Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade at CBP

The session will be moderated by Steven Okun Chair of AAP and Senior Advisor at McLarty Associates.

Registration is free for AmCham Taiwan members. Register here.

Spotlight on Resilience #3: Risks across the Strait after the Communist Party Congress

In response to members’ requests in a recent survey for briefings from U.S. and Taiwan authorities to help them deal with Cross-Strait challenges impacting the business environment, AmCham Taiwan is launching a new webinar series, “Spotlight on Resilience.” To maximize participation, most briefings will take place via Webex.

The third in the series will be held on Thursday, October 27 from 11am to 12pm. Speakers Mike Chinoy and Peter Enav, two veteran foreign correspondents with years of experience covering Taiwan/China issues, will break down the risks, especially in the wake of October’s Chinese Communist Party Congress.

Register here.

Spotlight on Resilience #2: FBI & Cyber Security Resources

Following on from the well-attended October 18 webinar with Bill Baoerjin and James Yu from the FBI, the speakers shared some helpful cyber security resources with our members.

FBI Internet Crime Compliant Center (IC3) https://www.ic3.gov/

Businesses can file a Business Email Compromise (BEC) report here: https://www.ic3.gov/Home/BEC

This will also initiate the financial fraud kill chain mentioned during the presentation.

The National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance (NCFTA) https://www.ncfta.net/

NCFTA is where the FBI partners with the private sector to offer trainings and information sharing. It focuses on the U.S., but is expanding its role internationally.

Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas

Stop Ransomware https://www.stopransomware.gov

The FBI issues alerts such as the CISA Joint Advisory, Private Industry Notification (PIN) and FBI Liaison Alert System (FLASH). These alerts can be found on the Official Alerts & Statements – FBI | CISA page.

Members can download the FBI fact sheet on ransomware: Ransomware Fact Sheet

December 15 2022 Joint Cybersecurity Advisory on Criminal Actors Use Business Email Compromise to Steal Large Shipments of Food Products and Ingredients.

AmCham Webinar: Spotlight on Resilience #1: USDOC-Bureau of Industry & Security Open Briefing on Export Controls

In response to members’ requests in a recent survey for briefings from U.S. and Taiwan authorities to help them deal with Cross-Strait challenges impacting the business environment, AmCham Taiwan is launching a new webinar series, “Spotlight on Resilience.” The first session will be held on Wednesday, August 31 from 11am. Details and registration information can be found below.

The first webinar invites Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Export Control officer Jose Rodriguez to cover the following topics:

  • U.S. Export Control Authorities Overview
  • Summary of new Russia (and Belarus) Sanctions
  • Other Russian Industry Sector Sanctions
  • New Multilateral Controls on Advanced Semiconductors and Gas Turbines
  • Due Diligence Best Practices
  • Enforcement Actions
  • Invitation to one-on-one sessions

Register now.

AmCham Taiwan Survey on Recent Military Tensions: Members Report Limited Immediate Impact but Heightened Concerns

Toward a Practical Framework for Business Visa Issuance that Helps Taiwan Prosper, Re-engage and Attract Talent

AmCham Taiwan members have shared with the Chamber office mounting concerns about their companies’ inability to secure entry visas for short-term business travel to, and long-term assignment in, Taiwan.

 

Our office hears of similar “doing business” difficulties from counterparts in the European, Japanese, and domestic chamber communities, that are also reflected in the “White Papers,” issued by several of our fellow chambers. In response we drew up four questions that AmCham Taiwan put to our 400 voting members, while the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (JCCIT) put the same questions to 500 of their members, 11/23-12/3. Of 900 firms queried, just under 10% of AmCham members responded and just under 30% of the Japanese firms did so.

 

The surveys revealed the following impact on the respondents from June 2021 to date:

  • 68% of AmCham and 73% of JCCIT firms have had their business hurt to some extent or a large extent by the inability to obtain business visas.
  • Over 2,200 individuals connected to the members of the two chambers have been unable to secure business visas for Taiwan.
  • Travel blockage has, or will impede, over US$400 million in transactions.
  • At least 22 investment projects have been or will be canceled or diverted from Taiwan by the inability to travel here.

 

To help resolve this problem, AmCham suggests the following broad measures be considered:

  1. BOLSTER THE TAIWAN ECONOMY – weight business travel alongside student, migrant worker, family travel, etc. Recognize that the cost of lost business is primarily borne by Taiwan companies and employees.
  2. ADHERE TO TRANSPARENCY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION – streamline applications and ensure a transparent, process with nearly automatic approval for bona fide business travel, without respect to industry sector or company.
  3. MAINTAIN PREDICTABILITY, UNDER A FLEXIBLE, RISK-BASED SYSTEM – grant visas rapidly, up to progressive caps that respond real-time to public health conditions, with published milestones (e.g., vaccination levels) or tripwires (ICU admissions, critical illnesses).

 

AmCham Taiwan is NOT calling for the immediate reduction or elimination of testing, quarantine, or other public health regulations for any entrants. NOR is AmCham calling for a full-scale travel opening that would result in a surge or sustained increase in entrants beyond levels which authorities deem prudent.

 

Our request is for a clear, measured policy that protects public health during pandemic (or epidemic) conditions without causing undue damage to Taiwan’s business environment and economic interests.

 

                                             12.2021

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.