Taiwan’s Place in U.S. Trade Policy: Opportunity or Casualty?

Taiwan finds itself in a challenging position vis-à-vis U.S. trade policy. It is the target of the global steel tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. At the same time, its extensive involvement in Chinese supply chains confronts it with potential fallout from a US-China trade war. On the other hand, Taiwan remains, as it has for many years, an ideal candidate for negotiation of a free trade agreement with the U.S. – a move that could encourage others of its trading partners to follow suit. So where is US trade policy heading with regard to Taiwan? Will the U.S. administration and Congress take up the economic and strategic opportunity it represents or with they allow it to become collateral damage in the prosecution of a newly, aggressive American trade policy?