AmCham releases 2026 Taiwan White Paper, lauds ‘golden age’ for economic relations

AmCham releases 2026 Taiwan White Paper, lauds ‘golden age’ for economic relations

2026-06-16

The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan has released the 2026 Taiwan White Paper on Tuesday. According to AmCham Taiwan President Carl Wegner, Taiwan-US economic relations could be said to have entered a golden age. Bilteral trade volume grew by at least 30% on both sides in 2025, and the US has become Taiwan’s largest trading partner, replacing China. Wegner also urged the US to pass a double taxation avoidance agreement, and called on Taiwan to continue bolstering its grid.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan has released the 2026 Taiwan White Paper, in which 221 suggestions were made to Taiwan and US authorities, including implementing the US-Taiwan trade deal and strengthening drone cooperation.

Carl Wegner
AmCham Taiwan President
Taiwan and the United States are experiencing what some are calling a golden age of economic relations. The United States became Taiwan’s No. 1 trading partner in 2025, for the first time in over 20 decades.

Taiwan and the US are becoming closer economic partners. Last year, Taiwanese exports to the US grew by almost 35%, while US imports to Taiwan, by almost 30%. Bilateral trade volume in 2025 exceeded US$246 billion. The US also became Taiwan’s largest trading partner last year, while Taiwan became the US’ fourth largest.

Carl Wegner
AmCham Taiwan President
Taiwan is one of the Top 10 trading partners with the US. Taiwan is the only country without a dual taxation agreement… for better opportunities for SMEs to go to the US, and also for American companies to come to Taiwan.

AmCham Taiwan urged US lawmakers to swiftly pass a double taxation avoidance agreement, saying that it will benefit Taiwan investors in the US, such as TSMC, and vice versa. It also lauds the progress Taiwan made on its power system, while urging long-term vision on the issue.

Carl Wegner
AmCham Taiwan President
Predictability, stability, continue to enhancing the grid. It’s not a short-term issue. It’s a long-term issue, and we continue to see that making progress.

The US had initiated Section 301 Investigations, and is expected to conclude investigations and hearings by mid-July. Regarding whether a decision will be made on Taiwan, AmCham emphasized that the investigations concern 60 economies worldwide, instead of being targeted at Taiwan. It also called on continued dialogue for closer bilateral relations.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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#taiwan #business #amcham #trade #investment

提2026白皮書美國商會:現今為台美貿易黃金時代

2026-06-16

台灣美國商會每年都會提出白提書，向台灣政府提出建言，今年強調，現在是台美貿易的黃金時代，除了要加強無人機合作，也關注台灣穩定供電議題。另外，美國商會也向華府喊話，盡快通過避免雙重課稅協定，讓台美企業都能加大投資。

台灣美國商會發布2026白皮書，向兩國政府提出221項建言，包含落實台美對等貿易協定，和加強無人機合作。

[[台灣美國商會執行長魏凱]]
“台灣與美國正處於有些人說的，經貿關係的黃金時代。美國在2025年成為台灣第一大貿易夥伴，這是20多年來首次。”

黃金時代不是講講而已，去年台灣對美出口增加近35%，進口成長近30%，雙邊貿易總額超過2460億美元，美國是我國第一大貿易夥伴，同時台灣也成為美國第四大夥伴。

[[台灣美國商會執行長魏凱]]
“台灣是美國前10大貿易夥伴，台灣是唯一一個沒有避免雙重課稅協定的國家。協定將有利於中小企業赴美，也有利於美國企業來台。”

商會舉例，除了台積電，台廠陸續赴美設廠，美商也擴大投資台灣，希望美國國會盡快通過"避免雙重課稅"協定。另一關注焦點，也是輝達執行長黃仁勳，先前提出的能源問題。

[[台灣美國商會執行長魏凱]]
“可預測性、穩定性，持續加強電網，這並非短期的議題，而是長期，我們持續看到進展。”

美方先前提出301調查，七月中前完成諮詢和聽證程序，決定是否實施。美國商會認為，這是針對60個經濟體，並非針對台灣，要持續對話，強調雙方緊密關係。

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Many young people feel hopeless in the face of Taiwan’s steep property prices and high rents. The latest DGBAS statistics show that growth in rent prices has stayed below 2% over the past five months, and even slipped to a four-year low of 1.76% in May. It seems like rental pressures are easing, but does this translate to actual relief for tenants? One young professional who has been renting in Taipei’s Wanhua District for nearly a decade said he doesn’t dare sign a new contract with his landlord out of fear they’ll raise the rent.

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I came to Taipei after starting college, and I’m 30 now. Before I settled in my current apartment, I moved basically once a year.

From college to now, Omo has had nearly a decade of experience renting in Taipei. He’s currently in a second-floor apartment near Wanhua Station with three bedrooms, a living room, and one bath for NT$25,000 a month. It’s convenient living near two rail lines with a bus stop 30 seconds from his door.

Omo
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This place is a little bigger than where I lived before and the transport is more convenient. So even though it’s a little more expensive, I think it’s worth it.

According to DGBAS statistics, rents have grown at an average annual rate of less than 2% over the past five months. In May, it reached a four-year low of 1.76%. But to renters, it hasn’t made much of a difference.

Omo
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I haven’t noticed. I have a fixed contract now. If I were to feel the effects of this trend, I’d have to sign a new contract, but there’s no way I’d renegotiate now. If I approached my landlord and said I wanted to sign a new lease, I highly doubt the rent would drop. So unless I had to move to a new place, this market cooldown doesn’t really affect me.

Tseng Ching-te
Real-estate researcher
Rental increases have already plateaued. It’s not like in the past two or three years, which was driven by inflation and rising real-estate prices, which in turn led to relatively dramatic rent hikes.

As salaries fail to keep pace with housing prices, experts recommend easing the financial burden by applying for government rental subsidies. Although rental hikes are finally subsiding, most tenants are still waiting to see any real relief in their bank accounts.

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Yilan school gifts grads pens with misprinted proverb

Another day, another creative graduation gift! Yuan Shan Junior High School in Yilan gifted its grads pens that say “The early worm gets the bird” — quite the difference from the usual phrase. The school explained that it was a misprint by the factory 13 years ago, but later became a massive hit. It eventually morphed into an inspirational phrase, meant to tell students that although their school is small, its students have grand ambitions.

This ordinary pencil case comes with an ordinary pen with an inspirational phrase. The early bird gets the... wait a minute. It says “The early worm gets the bird!” Is it a typo?

Member of public
I was confused for a moment, but then it made me smile. I think its pretty clever. It’s like a brain teaser, using a clever way to subvert your logic.

This is one of 100 pens given to graduates of Yilan’s Yuan Shan Junior High School as a gift this year. By subverting the classic proverb “The early bird gets the worm,” it’s generated a lot of discussion and proven popular among students.

Student
It subverts tradition.

Student
Maybe the school means to encourage us to break through our limits. To become another you and achieve things you normally wouldn’t be able to do.

But make no mistake: This isn’t a cynical phrase meaning the worm will get eaten by the bird. The school clarified that 13 years ago, they asked the manufacturer to make pens in both Chinese and English. The English turned out right, but the Chinese swapped the words for bird and worm. A student noticed and reported it to the school, but since it was funny and inspirational in its own way, they decided to make it a tradition.

Chu Yung-chih
Head of student affairs
We’re a small school, meaning we’re “early worms.” But even though we’re small, our students have grand ambitions. So to us, this misprinted phrase can serve as a source of great strength.

Yilan’s Yuan Shan Junior High only has 212 students across 10 classes, averaging out to fewer than five classes per grade. Although small like the worm in the phrase, they’ve found the limelight with this creative gift.

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2026-06-16

Boss orders pure gold chicken drumsticks to gift employees

Have you ever seen a chicken drumstick made of pure gold? A business owner in Kaohsiung custom ordered 40 of them to give to his employees, leaving onlookers envious. But the jeweler said you can get more than just drumsticks. Also popular are their burgers, excavators, and even fire trucks, all made of gold.

Golden drumsticks are lined up in neat rows, glittering in the light. But don’t eat them! They’re all made of real gold. The owner of a steel company in Kaohsiung bought 40 of these to give to his employees, leaving everyone else jealous.

- It’s great! That boss is so generous. Which company is it? Are they hiring?

- What do you think about it?
- They’re very creative.

The business owner said that one drumstick is about 3 grams, worth NT$16,000. The store also offers chicken wings and entire roast chickens, all made of gold.

Chuang Shu-ting
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You can arrange these chicken wings and drumsticks on a literal golden platter to make a delicious fried chicken combo. But beyond these chicken figurines, there’s a whole world out there of eccentric collectables.

There’s also a cement mixer, fire truck, hamburger, and lighter, not to mention dogs, bears, and horses. The wheels and claws even move on the excavator and forklift.

Voice of jeweler
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They may look large, but they only weigh about 7.5 to 11.25 grams, valued at NT$50,000 to NT$60,000 at most. Since they’re light, the entry-level price remains accessible.

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We have a lot of clients who like to collect them to display. It’s safe to say that each younger customer of mine has two or three of these.

Traditionally, the gold market has been dominated by the sale of standard bullions, nuggets, or jewelry. But in the past few years, these intricate figures have been taking the market by storm. They not only retain their value, but also attract interest from a younger generation of buyers.

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Wealth god shrine next to Kaohsiung mall frequented by staff

Every department store hopes for stellar sales and crowds of shoppers. Next to the parking garage for a mall in Kaohsiung’s Caoya, a shrine to the God of Wealth was built especially for the staff. Employees stop by to pray before their shifts, asking for their counters to make good sales and see an endless flow of customers. The sight has become a unique feature of the shopping center.

While on her way to work, a retail employee stops by this God of Wealth shrine for a quick prayer. Before the mall doors open, staff stop by one after another to pay their respects.

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I’ll stop by on my way to work. It’s become a habit to pray for the day to go well.

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I’ll go whenever I can to pray for the mall’s sales to keep improving. Everyone goes.

This tiny shrine nestled right next to the mall is frequented by employees praying for booming business, making it a quirk of the neighborhood.

Down a small alley over in Sanmin District, there’s another Wealth God temple that’s also a must-go spot among locals looking for a little pocketbook assistance.

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As long as all sanitary conditions comply with guidelines, we’re on board with the vendors serving a variety of creative offerings.

These sensational dishes have sparked conversation online, prompting the vendor to double down with even more creations. Just from looking at this dark broth, can you tell what it is? That’s right—it’s chocolate. The curry didn’t escape experimentation either. That one is served with a turtle-shaped chocolate.

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I’ve tried the hash brown with pudding or strawberry. They’re actually pretty good. Not too much.

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A retired civil servant in Pingtung built a miniature railway park that takes up his entire living room, with high-speed and normal train models running along the tracks. While helping his grandson assemble a toy train set, he unexpectedly developed a passion for building miniatures. Using cardboard and wood, he made a mini railway park entirely by hand, scaled to less than one hundredth of the real size, complete with lifelike scenery.

A train runs down a track, winding around houses and trees, passing platforms, and crossing bridges. This miniature railway park was built entirely by hand and takes up the whole room.

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Now there are four railway parks assembled in his living room, with lifelike stations, bridges, and fields.

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There are two types of turf. One is more lifelike, and the other is made of paper. I buy scrap wood from a lumberyard, so it’s very cheap.

Lan built the model with recycled materials, assembling the tracks piece by piece. He even connected electricity to the tracks so that the trains can move.

Lan Wen-hsien
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I knew nothing about electricity before. It looks like a toy, but it’s kind of complicated. I didn’t understand how positive and negative currents worked, but if they collided, the trains wouldn’t move.

Lan taught himself about electricity, installing remote controls that can change the train’s speed and direction. His friends were astonished at what he built.

Chang Meng-wei
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It’s incredible. I’ve never seen a railway model of this scale or with this kind of scenery. Everyone is asking where the model is and if they can see it.

Lan has collected hundreds of different model trains and set them up along tracks in his home, each section with its own unique scenery. With his newfound hobby, Lan has found a way to enjoy retired life to the fullest.

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