Helped by demand for AI-related hardware, Taiwan's exports to the United States keep growing, and its trade surplus with the US could exceed $200 billion this year — raising concern over whether President Trump will use that surplus as leverage. Wendy Cutler, a former negotiator at the US Trade Representative's office, advised Taiwan to step up communication with Washington and remind the administration, Congress and the public that "not all trade deficits are bad," since the surplus is driven by the semiconductors and other key products the US needs for AI. She proposed four steps: show concrete progress at TSMC's US plants, publicize the economic contribution of Taiwanese investment, explain what is behind the deficit, and make Taiwan's case to newly elected lawmakers after the November midterms.

Taiwan·TSMC·Wendy Cutler·+4