U.S. trade group confident on continued cooperation with Taiwan

Taipei, Jan. 7 (CNA) The head of a U.S. nonprofit trade promotion organization lauded trust as the cornerstone in promoting economic and commercial cooperation between the United States and Taiwan, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) said in a statement released Tuesday.

Rupert Hammond-Chambers, the president of the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council (USTBC), who is leading a delegation on a visit to Taiwan, said Monday in Taipei that he is confident the United States and Taiwan will continue to cooperate on their existing foundation, even after the incoming new U.S. government takes office, said TAITRA, Taiwan's foremost nonprofit trade promoter.

Hammond-Chambers said that long-term cooperation between companies in Taiwan and the U.S. has formed an ecosystem of trust so even when a new U.S. administration takes over, mutual trust will continue, TAITRA said.

According to the Taipei-headquartered trade promoting organization, Hammond-Chambers made the remarks during a meeting with Taiwanese business leaders to discuss opportunities to promote bilateral economic and trade relations and industrial cooperation.

The USTBC has long been committed to promoting commercial relations between the U.S. and Taiwan and serves as an important bridge between the two countries, TAITRA Chairman James Huang (黃志芳) was cited as saying during Monday's meeting in the statement.

Facing a new era of rapid global change, particularly the fast development of artificial intelligence, the administration of incoming U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated for his second term on Jan. 20, is focused on "the re-industrialization of the U.S." to cope with future challenges, Huang said.

With its industrial advantages in AI, semiconductors, ICT and other cutting-edge fields, Taiwan will offer indispensable support and be a reliable and important partner of the U.S., he said.

To strengthen Taiwan-U.S. economic and trade links, TAITRA will host a flagship Taiwan Expo in Dallas, Texas from Aug. 14-16, according to the statement.