AmCham urges removal of tariffs on Taiwan, more high-level visits

Taipei, June 10 (CNA) The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (AmCham Taiwan) on Tuesday urged Washington to cancel its import taxes on Taiwanese goods while calling for more high-level visits by U.S. officials.

At the launch of the business group's 2025 White Paper in Taipei, AmCham Taiwan urged the U.S. government to "remove new and proposed tariffs on Taiwanese goods" as they "unfairly penalize a trusted democratic partner."

"Maintaining tariffs on semiconductors, advanced machinery and electronics raises costs for American businesses and consumers while sending a conflicting signal about the strength of U.S.-Taiwan ties," said the chamber, which represents 500 American and international companies with operations in Taiwan.

"Taiwan is a reliable friend of the United States, an essential democratic partner in the Indo-Pacific, a major investor in American industry, and a critical contributor to supply chain resilience," AmCham Taiwan President Carl Wegner said at the event.

"As the U.S. works to bolster domestic manufacturing and reduce supply chain vulnerabilities, it's in America's interest to ensure that Taiwan is treated as a partner, not as an adversary," he added.

Taipei and Washington have begun tariff negotiations after U.S. President Donald Trump announced "reciprocal" tariffs in early April. Trump initially proposed a 32 percent duty on Taiwanese goods as part of broader measures targeting imports from about 185 countries and territories.

Trump later suspended the tariff measures for 90 days and instead imposed a reduced 10 percent duty on most imports, providing a window for trade talks.

On Tuesday, AmCham Taiwan also voiced support for more visits to Taiwan by U.S. cabinet officials, emphasizing that such high-level exchanges strengthen bilateral ties and enhance communication.

"Routine visits by senior U.S. officials, including cabinet members, are a cornerstone of diplomatic normalization. These visits support strategic coordination, drive regulatory alignment and demonstrate that engagement with Taiwan is normal, expected and uncontroversial," Wegner said.

Since Trump returned to the White House in January, there have been several U.S. delegations to Taiwan, but they consisted only of congressional members.

During Trump's first presidency, the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Travel Act in 2018 to encourage visits between U.S. and Taiwanese officials at all levels.

Afterward, then-U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar visited Taiwan in August 2020, followed by then-Under Secretary of State Keith Krach that same year.

During President Joe Biden's term, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022, making her the highest-ranking U.S. official to do so since 1997.

However, her visit drew the ire of Beijing, which later launched a large-scale military drill around Taiwan and suspended imports of multiple Taiwanese products to China.