TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) vowed Thursday (April 24) that the island democracy will prioritize its economic sovereignty during high-stakes tariff negotiations with the United States. Speaking at a press briefing, Cho revealed that the trade team led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君) is deliberately timing its next move to protect vulnerable Taiwanese industries from potential fallout.
The diplomatic maneuvers come after Washington temporarily suspended its threatened reciprocal tariffs for a 90-day period, creating a narrow window for affected nations to negotiate better terms. Taiwan's delegation already conducted initial virtual talks with U.S. officials on April 11, addressing both tariff structures and non-tariff trade barriers. The high-level Taiwanese negotiation team draws expertise from national security agencies, foreign affairs ministry, and the Executive Yuan's Office of Trade Negotiations (經貿談判辦公室), a specialized unit within Taiwan's cabinet focused on international trade diplomacy.
In a parallel move designed to strengthen Taiwan's economic position, the Executive Yuan (Taiwan's cabinet) has approved a comprehensive draft bill valued at NT$410 billion (US$12.6 billion) focused on enhancing national resilience across multiple sectors. The proposed legislation would direct funds toward business support programs, industrial competitiveness initiatives, and critical infrastructure including Taiwan Power Company and social insurance systems. Premier Cho and Vice Premier Cheng jointly presented the strategic economic buffer plan during Thursday's press conference.
Addressing speculation about the negotiation timeline, Premier Cho confirmed that Vice Premier Cheng has not yet departed for Washington but remains in Taiwan, ready to engage when strategic conditions prove favorable. He further clarified that the aforesaid package represents a maximum allocation rather than a guaranteed expenditure, allowing authorities to calibrate financial responses based on the actual economic impact of any eventual trade agreement with the United States. ★
