《TAIPEI TIMES》Arizona set to open trade office in Taiwan: governor

growing relationship: Ties between Taiwan and the US state go beyond shared economic strengths and are rooted in friendship and trust, governor Doug Ducey said

Staff writer, with CNA and AP

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Arizona is planning to open a trade office in Taiwan, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey said yesterday at a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文） in Taipei.

“As a reflection of Arizona’s commitment to the growing relationship with Taiwan, last month I was proud to sign legislation establishing our state’s first foreign trade office in Taiwan,” Ducey said.

The governor arrived in Taipei on Tuesday with a business delegation for a three-day visit.

Ducey, who was CEO of the international ice cream parlor chain Cold Stone Creamery from 1995 to 2007, described the partnership between Arizona and Taiwan as “a sure recipe for success.”

Tsai said she had “every confidence” that the establishment of the planned trade office would help “accelerate our bilateral economic and trade collaboration.”

The proposed trade office in Taiwan would be launched “later this year,” Ducey’s office said in a statement.

At least 12 US states have opened a representative or trade office in Taiwan, according to the American State Offices Association headquartered in Taipei.

Arizona and Taiwan have many shared economic strengths, especially in technology and advanced manufacturing industries, Ducey said.

The relationship between Arizona and Taiwan goes beyond shared business priorities, the governor said, adding that it was a partnership “rooted in friendship and trust.”

“Arizona stands with Taiwan and we look forward to building on the many opportunities ahead,” he added.

Tsai said that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s （台積電） US$12 billion chip fab in Arizona would serve as “a benchmark” for Taiwan-US cooperation on high-tech industrial supply chains.

TSMC began construction of the fab in Phoenix last year and plans to start production in 2024.

Tsai said she is “confident” that Taiwan and Arizona would further deepen bilateral cooperation in such areas as education, culture, the economy, trade and technology.

Neither Tsai nor Ducey directly mentioned China, although, in her remarks, the president said that current events were driving expanded economic links with the US.

“In the face of authoritarian expansionism and the economic challenges of the post-pandemic era, Taiwan seeks to bolster cooperation with the United States in semiconductor and other high-tech industries,” Tsai said.

“This will help build more secure and more resilient supply chains. We look forward to jointly producing democracy chips to safeguard the interests of our democratic partners and create greater prosperity,” she said.

Close links between Taiwan and Arizona date back to former senators Barry Goldwater and John McCain, Arizona conservatives who were strongly critical of Beijing.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES