Seizing New Opportunities in the US: Federal Representatives Visit Taiwan to Invite Taiwanese Companies to Invest

The 2026 "New Framework for US-Taiwan Economic and Trade Agreement: Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies, and New Layout of Non-Red Supply Chains for Taiwanese Enterprises Investing in the US" forum, hosted by the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce of North America, commenced today. Chairperson Hsu Chia-ching of the Overseas Community Affairs Council, Maryland Secretary of State Susan C. Lee, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kelly Wu-chiao Hsieh, Political Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Wen-juh Chiang, and ITRI President Pei-Zen Chang were invited to attend. Simultaneously, US federal representatives Julie Fedorchak (North Dakota), Jefferson Shreve (Indiana), Zach Nunn (Iowa), and Scott Fitzgerald (Wisconsin) also participated in the grand event. Fedorchak pointed out that North Dakota has the lowest energy costs in the US, with nearly 30% of its electricity from wind energy. Combined with natural resources like oil, natural gas, and coal, it is not only suitable for manufacturing products but also ideal for developing data centers. North Dakota is the only state in the US with a state bank, which can provide more attractive low-interest loans than private banks, offering additional financial assistance to companies settling in North Dakota. Regarding US-Taiwan relations, Fedorchak emphasized that Taiwan is part of the solution, consistently demonstrating a commitment to fair trade, transparent business practices, and alignment with American values. Fedorchak stated that under President Trump's new tariff framework, there is actually a greater opportunity to deepen economic integration between Taiwan and the US, as the Trump administration is committed to building secure supply chains that benefit the US, rather than opposing it. "We can invest in resilience without sacrificing the prosperity that comes from working with trusted partners." Shreve stated that Indiana is a manufacturing state, producing and transporting products, especially in the fields of life sciences, advanced manufacturing, automotive production, logistics, and industrial systems, with most of its GDP coming from manufacturing. Companies headquartered in Indiana include pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, Cummins Engine, and animal health company Elanco. "The past few years have reminded us that supply chains are crucial, resilience is crucial, trust is crucial, and over-reliance on 'the wrong places' comes with a real cost," Shreve said. This is why Taiwan is so important to the US; Taiwan is not only a trading partner but also a strategic partner. As a democracy, it respects the rule of law, is a rigorous economic partner, and understands that "business and security" go hand in hand. Fitzgerald discussed that for the past two generations in the US, there has been an overemphasis on encouraging many high school graduates to pursue four-year college degrees, viewing it as a natural path. However, the problem is that a group of young people who "fall through the cracks" are ignored; they neither attend four-year universities nor enter vocational fields. Fitzgerald said that in the American education system, vocational education refers to Tech Colleges, and the requirement for them has always been flexibility, needing to foresee upcoming trends and make changes. However, the US has not done this in the past, meaning it now faces shortages of engineers, plumbers, and other fields related to construction trades. This is a trend that must be reversed. Fitzgerald believes that the world must realize that not every high school graduate should go to a four-year college; they have many other opportunities. This phenomenon is currently affecting the US, and he believes the world faces the same situation, though he is unsure of the extent in Taiwan, but it is an issue everyone must pay attention to. Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn, Chairman of the National Security Task Force of the House Republican Study Committee (RSC), emphasized the economic, security, and diplomatic partnership with Taiwan in his speech. Nunn stated that "America First should not mean America Alone," but rather that the US and its allies should be able to achieve goals together. Regarding Taiwan's role in supply chain restructuring, Nunn believes that Taiwan's role in the world is irreplaceable. Over 50% of global semiconductors come from Taiwan, and 90% of advanced process semiconductors are manufactured by Taiwan. Therefore, the growth of the supply chain depends not only on Taiwan's manufacturing capabilities but also on Taiwan's continued deepening relationships with the world. Lee Feng-chien pointed out that Maryland assists companies in exploring the US market through its "Global Gateway" program; from Maryland, one can reach one-third of the US population within an overnight drive. Maryland and Taiwan have established a strong and growing partnership, which extends beyond trade to include cooperation in innovation, education, and cultural exchange, laying the foundation for long-term interaction. (Edited by Lin Shu-yuan) 1150407