Trade negotiation team in US for 6th round of talks, anticipates consensus

Trade negotiation team in US for 6th round of talks, anticipates consensus

2026-01-15

Taiwan’s trade negotiation team departed for the US late Wednesday night, for the sixth and hopefully, final round of in-person talks with the US. It’s expected that the two sides shall announce the substance of any consensus reached this time, with a formal trade deal inked at a later date. Earlier in the day, President Lai Ching-te had received a delegation from Phoenix, Arizona, during which the goals of both sides were also hinted at.

On Wednesday afternoon, President Lai Ching-te received a delegation from the city of Phoenix in the US State of Arizona, led by Mayor Kate Gallego. At the meeting, Gallego praised the results of TSMC’s investment in her city; while President Lai took the opportunity to urge a swift conclusion of a Taiwan-US agreement to avoid double taxation.

Lai Ching-te (Jan. 14)
President
Taiwan is willing and able to employ its own comprehensive semiconductor and high-tech ecosystem in combination with the US’s powerful drive for innovation and large-scale market to jointly strengthen industrial connections and build trusted non-red supply chains. I anticipate that, with the support and efforts of our guests, a Taiwan-US agreement on the avoidance of double taxation will be signed at the earliest possible juncture.

Kate Gallego (Jan. 14)
Mayor of Phoenix
We know that TSMC’s success is Phoenix’s success. And we are honored that TSMC Arizona is already profitable. It is benefitting the people of Phoenix so much.

Mayor Gallego was clearly proud of TSMC’s achievements in her city. Meanwhile, Taiwan-US trade talks are also advancing, and hopefully finalizing.

According to a Bloomberg report, an unnamed official revealed that Taiwan’s trade team, led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun and chief trade negotiator Yang Jen-ni was on the way to Washington, DC just as the Phoenix delegation was received by the president, and would touch down sometime between the 14th and 15th in Taiwan time. Lawmakers of both camps immediately jumped to trade barbs.

Lo Chih-chiang
Lawmaker (KMT)
Our President Lai Ching-te, in the spirit of the “Foolish Old Man who removed the mountains” completely gutted our sacred mountain for national defense, and raised a white flag in surrendering. I’d like to ask President Lai Ching-te: What have you done so far, in terms of protecting our high-tech industry?

Rosalia Wu
Lawmaker (DPP)
Before the talks are formally concluded, any and all political slander and maneuvering can do well with a rest. I really hope that opposition lawmakers don’t make something bad out of something good.

The Office of Trade Negotiations listed four main objectives this round, including further lowering reciprocal tariffs on Taiwanese goods without stacking on most-favored nations rates, securing the most favorable treatment under Section 232 tariffs for semiconductors and related goods. Additionally, the talks will also focus on expanding the “Taiwan model” within US supply chains, as well as promoting bilateral trade balance.

A joint statement is to be expected after this round, while a formal trade deal will be signed at a later date.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taiwan #us #tariffs #trade #trump

台美關稅談判即將完成鄭麗君第六度赴美磋商"會後宣布共識"

2026-01-15

台美關稅協議進入最後一哩路，行政院副院長鄭麗君與經貿談判辦公室總談判代表楊珍妮，傳出已在14號深夜緊急赴美，全力衝刺第六輪實體磋商，預計會後將宣布與美國達成的共識，而總統賴清德昨天在接見三度訪台的鳳凰城市長蓋蕾歌時也表示，期許台美雙方聯手打造非紅供應鏈，盡早簽署避免雙重課稅協定。

總統賴清德親自接見美國亞利桑那州鳳凰城市長蓋蕾歌，蓋蕾歌力讚台積電前往亞利桑納州投資，是台美交流最具代表性的成果之一，也期許台美早日簽署"避免雙重課稅協定"。

[[總統賴清德]] (1.14)
“台灣有意願，也有能力，以自身完整的半導體，高科技產業生態系，結合美國強大的創新動能以及市場規模，共同深化產業鏈結，攜手打造可信任的非紅供應鏈，期待在各位貴賓的支持與努力下，台美雙方能夠早日完成，避免雙重課稅協定的簽署”

[[美國亞利桑那州鳳凰城市長蓋蕾歌(Kate Gallego)]] (1.14)
“台積電的成功就是鳳凰城的成功，我們也非常地高興看到，台積電的投資已經開始獲利，對於鳳凰城的人民來說，他們也得到很大的好處”

蓋蕾歌不諱言，台積電的成功就是鳳凰城的成功，而台美關稅協議，也進入最後一哩路。

彭博新聞，引述知情人士，行政院副院長鄭麗君，與經貿談判辦公室總談判代表楊珍妮，正趕往美國華府，預計於14日深夜或15日凌晨抵達，進行第六輪磋商，不過國內馬上掀起政治攻防。

[[立委(國) 羅智強]]
“現在我們賴清德總統來德公移山，就把我們的護國神山要掏空，完全舉白旗投降，我想請問賴清德總統，對於我們現在保護高科技產業，你做了什麼”

[[立委(民) 吳思瑤]]
“在正式談判結果之前，政治口水政治操作，真的大可休矣，希望在野黨的委員，不要把好事操作成壞事”

經貿辦指出，此行四大談判目標，包括對等關稅再調降且不疊加MFN，二是232條款關稅最優惠待遇，並以"台灣模式"打入美國供應鏈，擴展台灣科技產業實力，促成雙邊貿易平衡

會後台美雙方預計將對外宣布共識內容，並擇期進行文件簽署。

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For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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I don’t believe it’s the end of KFC egg tarts. It seems like they’re announcing a future collab.

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I think it’s fake. Because another company tried a similar campaign, but later turned out not to be the case.

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And now onto technology news. The world’s leading chipmaker TSMC held its highly anticipated earnings call, in an event hosted personally by company chair C. C. Wei. Some of the biggest highlights were the figures for the fourth quarter of 2025. Revenue for Q4 surpassed the NT$1 trillion mark for the first time ever, making for the strongest quarter in the history of the company. Worked out at an hourly rate, that equates to a revenue of a whopping NT$229 million per hour over three months. Wei was asked to comment on a recent report published by the New York Times regarding the company’s plans to invest in five new wafer fabs. This is what the company chairman had to say on the matter.

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2026-01-15