Vice President of the Legislative Yuan Johnny C. Chiang attended the opening ceremony of the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce of North America (TCNAA) in Miami at the invitation of the TCNAA. The distinguished guests in attendance included TCNAA President Chen Shih-Hsiu, World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce President Kenneth Wu, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Overseas Community Affairs Council Minister Hsu Chia-Ching, several honorary presidents, national policy advisors, and Director General Chou Chi-Yu of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami.
Vice President Chiang thanked the TCNAA for the invitation, which enabled him to visit the beautiful city of Miami once again to participate in the opening ceremony. He expressed the highest respect and gratitude for the hard-working overseas Taiwanese businessmen on behalf of the Legislative Yuan.
He noted that the U.S. and Canada, situated in North America, have always been Taiwan’s important trading partners. Over the years, the economic and trade relations between the two sides have constantly improved. In 2023, the U.S. was Taiwan’s second largest trading partner, the second largest export market, and the third largest source of imports. Taiwan is the United States’ eighth largest trading partner, the 13th largest export market, and the eighth largest source of imports.
Vice President Chiang pointed out that this year, the U.S. has replaced China as Taiwan’s largest export destination. If Canada is added, the North American region is unquestionably Taiwan’s most important export market. Taiwan is Canada’s sixth largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region. Last year, bilateral trade exceeded US$ 4.6 billion; in addition, both parties signed an investment promotion and protection agreement, showing that the bilateral relationship is becoming increasingly robust.
He hoped that overseas Taiwanese businessmen can keep accumulating work achievements, especially in the U.S. and Canada. By doing so, the voices of Taiwanese businessmen will be heard, and more crucially, be understood. He also hoped such voices can play a pivotal role between Taiwan, the U.S., and Canada.
Vice President Chiang also emphasized that Taiwan has been able to enhance its visibility around the globe and continue to gain the international community’s support and attention thanks to the efforts of overseas Taiwanese businessmen. In recent years, due to geopolitical factors, the Taiwan Strait’s security and stability, as well as the region’s prosperity and development, have drawn a lot of attention, especially from the U.S. He hoped that the influence of Taiwanese businessmen worldwide will help the international community to focus on Taiwan, thereby fostering security and stability in the region.
When talking about the current international political and economic situation, Vice President Chiang mentioned the recently concluded U.S. elections, saying that the new U.S. government is now in the process of recruiting relevant personnel. He congratulated the state of Florida because recent news have reported that congress members from Florida are likely to become key figures in Trump’s administration in the near future. He urged overseas Taiwanese businessmen to leverage their personal network and influence to further strengthen the relationship between Taiwan, the U.S., and Canada.
Lastly, Vice President Chiang noted that thanks to the efforts of overseas Taiwanese businessmen, the relationship between Taiwan and the North American region has evolved to become more extensive and profound, affecting not only trade and economic relations but also political, security, and societal interactions, with a notable emphasis on people-to-people exchanges. He looked forward to working together with overseas Taiwanese businessmen to create an even brighter future for Taiwan.
