Buildings stand along the Tamsui waterfront in New Taipei City, Taiwan, on January 9, 2026. ANN WANG / REUTERS
Taiwan has reached a "general consensus" with the United States on a trade deal, the democratic island's negotiators said Tuesday, January 12, after months of talks.
Taiwan and the US began negotiations in April to hash out a trade deal after US President Donald Trump slapped a 32% tariff on Taiwanese exports, which was later lowered to 20%.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has pledged to boost investment in the US as his government tries to further reduce the levy on its shipments, as well as avoid a toll on its semiconductor chip exports.
"The goal of the US-Taiwan tariff negotiations has always been to seek reciprocal tariff reductions without stacking tariffs, and to obtain preferential treatment under Section 232," the Office of Trade Negotiations said in a statement, adding there was a "general consensus" on these issues.
