Following Premier Cho Jung-tai’s (卓榮泰) meeting with information and communications technology (ICT) industry leaders in Taoyuan on Thursday, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) traveled to Taichung on Friday for a roundtable with over 20 companies based in the city’s industrial zones.
President Lai reiterated the government’s five-pronged strategy to support affected industries, beginning with trade negotiations with the United States. He emphasized Taiwan’s intention to pursue a zero-tariff framework similar to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and to expand imports from the U.S., including petroleum, natural gas, and other industrial and agricultural products.
Lai also revealed that Taiwan submitted its response plan to the U.S. government immediately after the tariff announcement and has since received a positive preliminary response. He noted that Taiwan is among the first group of countries slated for negotiations, and that the administration is ready to engage in talks to safeguard national interests and protect the future of key industries.
Reflecting on past crises—including energy shortages, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial collapse, and the COVID-19 pandemic—Lai said Taiwan has consistently emerged stronger. He called on all sectors of society across party lines to unite in support of the government’s strategy, expressing confidence that Taiwan will once again overcome adversity.