Taiwan will be included in the first group of countries to hold talks with the United States regarding tariffs, President Lai Ching-te announced on Friday.

Lai assured that Taiwan would be well-prepared for the upcoming discussions, which are a part of the broader global tariff negotiations led by the U.S.

In his comments to business leaders in Taichung, Taiwan, Lai emphasized that the country is committed to strengthening economic and trade cooperation with the U.S. and sees the tariff talks as an opportunity to further these ties. Taiwan, a major producer of semiconductors, was initially set to face 32% tariffs as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's broader push to ramp up pressure on China.

The U.S. has recently announced a temporary reduction in the tariffs it imposed on dozens of countries, while focusing additional pressure on China. Nearly 70 countries, including Taiwan, have already reached out to the U.S. to begin negotiations on tariffs, with discussions expected to intensify in the coming weeks.

In a separate statement, President Lai suggested using zero tariffs as a basis for the talks with the U.S., offering to increase Taiwan's investments in the U.S. and buy more American goods as part of a potential agreement.

As Taiwan continues to face growing military and political pressure from China, which claims the island as its own territory, the U.S. remains Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties. Taiwan’s government has consistently rejected Beijing's claims, affirming that only the island’s people can decide their future.

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