Dr. Tsai Ing-wen’s victory in Taiwan’s elections on January 16 was an important milestone for the island’s democracy. Her vision is to reestablish Taiwan, once a heralded East Asian “tiger,” as one of the region’s most dynamic economic heavyweights. The main goal is to position Taiwan for inclusion in one of the world’s biggest trade deals, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, in its eventual second round of negotiations. The new Taiwanese administration is focused on promoting innovation via smarter industrial policies; it also hopes to substantially liberalize and diversify its trade and investment partners to moderate its exposure to China and find new sources of growth. However, Taiwan faces great economic challenges. Its growth was less than 1 percent in 2015. Because of the importance of exports to Taiwan’s economy, with China ranking as its top trade partner, Taiwan’s economy has become dependent on China’s and vulnerable to its fluctuations.

Please join the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security for a discussion on the future of trade in Taiwan. Our featured discussants include Ms. Wendy Cutler former deputy US trade representative, and vice president and managing director of the Asia Society Policy Institute; Ms. Tami Overby, senior vice president of Asia at the US Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. Olin Wethington, nonresident senior fellow of the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security at the Atlantic Council. The discussion is moderated by Mr. Shawn Donnan, world trade editor at Financial Times.

This Atlantic Council event is part of the Cross-Straits Series of the Brent Scowcroft Center’s Asia Security Initiative, which examines strategic and current affairs surrounding cross-straits relations.

Ms. Wendy Cutler
Vice President and Managing Director
Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI)

Ms. Tami Overby
Senior Vice President, Asia
US Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Olin Wethington
Nonresident Senior Fellow
Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security
Atlantic Council 

Mr. Shawn Donnan (moderator)
World Trade Editor
Financial Times