Highlighting a strong complementarity between Taiwan and the EU in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence and green energy, Lai said that through “our joint efforts, we can create more resilient democratic supply chains, and further contribute to global prosperity and development.”
Taiwan has been calling for an economic deal with the EU since the tenure of Lai’s predecessor, former president Tsai Ing-wen, underscoring Taipei’s desire to deepen economic and trade ties with Europe. While the European Parliament has voiced support for negotiating an EPA with Taiwan, the European Commission has remained hesitant on the issue.