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Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 11 offices, was ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law firms: New working models” by The Financial Times and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award. The firm has been recognized by the National Law Journal as a Legal Technology Trailblazer and featured by Bloomberg for its innovative service delivery models, which drive accuracy and predictability. The firm’s commitment to innovation is embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTHTM – a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. For more information, please visit ThompsonHine.com and ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.

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On February 12, 2026, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) signed the <a href="https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/Press/Releases/2026/AIT-TECRO%20ART%20sanitized.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Agreement on Reciprocal Trade between the United States of America and Taiwan</a> (the &ldquo;Agreement&rdquo;), under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office.&nbsp;According to Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the USTR, the Agreement &ldquo;will eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers facing U.S. exports to Taiwan, furthering opportunities for American farmers, ranchers, fishermen, workers, small businesses, and manufacturers. This Agreement also builds on our longstanding economic and trade relationship with Taiwan and will significantly enhance the resilience of our supply chains, particularly in high-technology sectors.&rdquo;
The Agreement will fully enter into force the day following the date on which both countries provide notification of the completion of their respective applicable legal procedures required to implement the Agreement. According to the Agreement:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Taiwan will eliminate or reduce 99% of its tariff barriers and provide preferential market access for U.S. industrial exports, including autos and auto parts, chemicals, seafood, machinery, health products, electrical products, metals, and minerals. Taiwan will also provide preferential market access for U.S. agricultural exports, including horticultural products, wheat, beef and beef products, dairy products, pork and pork products, lamb and sheep meat, tree nuts, dog and cat food, ketchup, and peanuts.&nbsp;These revised tariff rates are set forth in Schedule 1 to <a href="https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/Press/Releases/2026/AIT-TECRO%20ART%20Tariff%20Schedules%20sanitized.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Annex 1</a> of the Agreement.</li>
<li>The United States will reduce tariffs on originating goods from Taiwan by applying the higher of either the U.S. Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rate or a tariff rate of 15%.&nbsp;The United States has also identified certain products from Taiwan that will not be subject to a reciprocal tariff. These revised tariffs rates are set forth in Section 2 to Annex 1 of the Agreement.</li>
<li>Taiwan has committed to resolve longstanding non-tariff barriers affecting U.S. exports of motor vehicles, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and agricultural exports.&nbsp;This includes removing certain quantitative restrictions and acceptance of U.S. vehicles, and accepting U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration (FDA) marketing authorizations for medical devices and pharmaceuticals.</li>
<li>Taiwan will ensure that technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures are applied in a non-discriminatory manner and do not operate as disguised restrictions on bilateral trade, and shall remove existing technical barriers to trade in areas that undermine reciprocity, including requirements for duplicative or unnecessary testing or conformity assessment.</li>
<li>Taiwan has agreed to implement a robust standard for intellectual property protection and enforcement.</li>
<li>Taiwan has agreed to protect internationally recognized labor rights. In doing so, the country will prohibit the importation of goods produced by forced or compulsory labor and strengthen its labor laws and their enforcement.</li>
<li>Taiwan has agreed to adopt, maintain and enforce environmental protection laws, and to uphold or institute strong environmental governance structures.</li>
<li>Taiwan has agreed not to impose digital services taxes, or similar taxes, that discriminate against U.S. companies.</li>
<li>Taiwan has committed to refrain from providing non-commercial assistance or otherwise subsidizing its good-producing public enterprises, except where the actions fulfill a legitimate public service objective, benefit small businesses, or protect its essential security interest.</li>
<li>Both countries have committed to strengthen economic and national security cooperation to enhance supply chain resilience, with Taiwan agreeing to maintain an effective and robust export control regime and strengthen cooperation with the United States.&nbsp;Notably, this section of the Agreement also states that Taiwan &ldquo;shall promulgate additional regulatory measures to prevent diversions of advanced semiconductors and related equipment, machine tools, 28 advanced computing items, and other critical technologies&rdquo; to certain covered nations (including China).</li>
</ul>
In addition, Taiwan has agreed to purchase the following goods from the United States from 2025 through 2029:&nbsp;(i) $44.4 billion worth of liquefied natural gas and crude oil; (ii) $25.2 billion worth of power equipment, power grids, materials, generators, storage facilities, marine equipment, steel-making equipment; and (iii) $15.2 billion worth of civil aircraft and engines, and other equipment.
This Agreement comes closely after the trade and investment agreement the United States and Taiwan signed in January 2026 seeking to establish a strategic economic partnership and to strengthen semiconductor supply chains.&nbsp;See Thompson Hine Update of <a href="https://www.thompsonhinesmartrade.com/2026/01/u-s-and-taiwan-sign-agreement-on-trade-investment/">January 16, 2026</a>.

United States and Taiwan Sign Agreement on Reciprocal Trade

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