TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Officials from Taiwan and the UK held trade talks Monday at the British Office Taipei, focusing on key sectors, including AI applications, semiconductors, energy, and commercial drones, CNA reported.
The discussions were co-hosted by Deputy Economics Minister Chiang Wen-jo (江文若) and UK Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade Douglas Alexander. Chiang emphasized Taiwan's crucial role in the global industrial supply chain and highlighted the strong partnership between Taiwan and the UK as democracies and free trade advocates.
Chiang noted that Taiwan and the UK have been cooperating in areas such as AI, semiconductors, manufacturing, and green energy. This year, the collaboration will expand to include steel technology and commercial drones. She expressed hope for continued collaboration to uphold regional trade prosperity.
According to the International Trade Administration, Taiwan is an important economic and trade partner for the UK. Last year, the UK was Taiwan’s fourth-largest trading partner in Europe.
Alexander said that Taiwan-UK trade continues to grow, with bilateral trade reaching a record high of approximately NT$3.77 trillion (US$12.76 billion) last year, representing a 7.7% growth compared to 2023. He added that the UK was Taiwan’s largest source of European investment last year.
In June, the UK government released its Industrial Strategy and Trade Strategy. Speaking at the event, Alexander explained that the Industrial Strategy's core focus is on attracting investment from high-value industries overseas and creating opportunities for international companies to conduct business in the nation more efficiently.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) met with Douglas Alexander on Monday, thanking the UK government for its longstanding support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Lai said the two countries signed an Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) arrangement in 2023. Building on that, the two nations signed three additional pillars under the ETP on Monday, aimed at further cooperation in investment, digital trade, energy, and net-zero goals.
Alexander highlighted that Lai's promotion of Taiwan's "five trusted industry sectors" — semiconductors, AI, defense, security and surveillance, and next-generation communications — closely aligns with the UK’s industrial and trade strategies. He added that the newly signed ETP pillars are expected to offer a clear framework for future cooperation between the two economies.
