A coalition of seven leading Taiwanese business organizations issued a joint statement Monday, urging lawmakers to expedite the ratification of a newly signed trade agreement with the United States, warning that delays could jeopardize the hard-won economic pact.
The agreement, which caps U.S. tariffs on Taiwanese exports at 15%, was welcomed by the industry groups as a critical step in aligning Taiwan's competitiveness with regional rivals like Japan and South Korea. However, the coalition also called on the government to prepare swift mitigation measures for domestic industries likely to face shockwaves from market liberalization.
Push for Legislative Speed
The joint statement, signed by influential bodies including the Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI) and the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC), emphasized that the 15% "reciprocal tariff" rate is a foundational win for the island's export-driven economy. （Related： Lai Hails US Trade Agreement as Strategic Breakthrough ｜ Latest ）
Drawing parallels to stalled trade deals in South Korea, the groups argued that rapid domestic review is essential to lock in the agreement's benefits. They urged the Legislative Yuan to put aside partisan differences and approve the deal as soon as the Executive Yuan submits it.
