TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan will maintain its economic development trajectory despite significant shifts in global trade policies under U.S. President Donald Trump, a senior Taiwanese official declared Wednesday (April 23). National Development Council (NDC, 國發會), Taiwan's top economic planning agency, Deputy Minister Kao Shien-Quey (高仙桂) told attendees at the "2025 Sustainable Taiwan Forum" (永續台灣論壇) that sustainability remains a priority even as Trump reshapes international commerce.
During her address, Kao outlined major shifts in American environmental policy, including the Trump administration's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, termination of the Inflation Reduction Act, cuts to net-zero energy investments, and loosened fossil fuel regulations. Despite these changes, she assured the audience that Taiwan's government would maintain its current policy direction, announcing a NT$88 billion (US$2.7 billion) industrial support initiative designed to preserve the island's core economic competitiveness.
The deputy minister emphasized Taiwan's competitive edge in digital and green technologies, suggesting these strengths could convert potential tariff challenges into strategic opportunities. She referenced a major environmental initiative unveiled in January by the Presidential Office (總統府), Taiwan's presidential office, which introduced a comprehensive "2030 carbon reduction action plan" with a substantial NT$1 trillion (US$30.8 billion) allocation to help businesses reduce emissions and advance circular economy principles.
Kao highlighted Taiwan's global leadership position in semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence development, noting plans for a second-phase energy transition policy that would accelerate industrial digital transformation through technological advancement. She cited the Financial Supervisory Commission's (金管會), Taiwan's financial regulatory agency, ambitious "Green Finance Action Plan 3.0" initiative, which targets generating NT$5 trillion (US$153.8 billion) in green investments by 2030.
To build necessary human capital, Kao detailed a partnership between the National Environmental Research Academy (NERA, 國家環境研究院) and 18 universities aimed at developing specialized environmental expertise. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA, 經濟部) and the Ministry of Environment (MOE, 環境部) have launched complementary training programs to strengthen Taiwan's green competitiveness. Kao concluded her remarks by expressing confidence that Taiwanese businesses would successfully navigate the next phase of green economic growth through a combination of government support measures and inherent corporate adaptability. ★
