TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君) and trade representative Yang Jen-ni (楊珍妮) departed for the U.S. Wednesday evening (Jan. 14) for the sixth round of tariff negotiations. The Office of Trade Negotiations (談判辦公室, OTN) confirmed the trip Thursday (Jan. 15), stating both sides will disclose consensus details after the meeting. The delegation plans in-person talks with the Trump administration in the upcoming days.
Taiwan's delegation seeks preferential tariff treatment for semiconductors and semiconductor derivatives under Section 232, a U.S. trade law. Objectives include achieving reciprocal tariff reductions, obtaining most-favored-nation (MFN) treatment for semiconductors, and integrating Taiwan into the U.S. supply chain. The delegation aims to establish a global AI supply chain partnership through a balanced trade relationship with the United States.
The New York Times reported Taiwan and the U.S. are nearing a trade agreement with U.S. import tariffs on Taiwanese goods dropping to 15%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TSMC, 台積電), the world's largest contract chipmaker, plans to build at least five more semiconductor plants in Arizona under the agreement. The OTN stated Monday (Jan. 13) both parties reached broad consensus on key issues and are discussing a concluding meeting schedule. ◼