Presdient Lai Ching-te is pledging to buy more US goods, including natural
gas and oil.

Lai said by purchasing more U.S. products, including weapons and agricultural
goods, Taiwan will not only create “more balanced bilateral trade” with the
U.S. but also boost its energy autonomy and resilience.

When hosting a U.S. congressional delegation, Lai also said the island would
be willing to participate in U.S. efforts to reindustrialize and to lead the
world in artificial intelligence.

Many US policymakers and analysts have argued that arming Taiwan includes not
only weapons sales but closer economic and trade ties so the island is less
vulnerable to economic coercion.

The U.S. is now the top destination for Taiwan's foreign investments, and the
island is also the 7th largest market for U.S. agricultural exports.

However, the U.S. buys far more from Taiwan and had a trade deficit of $116.3
billion dollars in 2024 according to the U.S. Trade Representative Office.

(AP-JL)