Washington: Taiwan and the United States concluded the first in-person meeting on tariffs Thursday, U.S. time, according to the Office of Trade Negotiations. In a statement Saturday, the office said a Taiwanese delegation led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun and top trade negotiator Yang Jen-ni held talks in Washington with U.S. officials on tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and other bilateral trade issues.

According to Focus Taiwan, the office, under the Executive Yuan, stated that the meeting was conducted in a harmonious and friendly manner, with both sides agreeing to strengthen economic cooperation to promote mutual benefits and create more business opportunities. This meeting followed an initial round of talks held via videoconference on April 11. U.S. President Donald Trump had first announced sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2, which included a 32 percent import duty on goods from Taiwan, targeting countries with large trade surpluses with Washington. Subsequently, he announced a 90-day pause to allow negotiations for a lower rate.

In the statement, Cheng highlighted that Taiwan and the U.S. have highly complementary economies, emphasizing that close cooperation could strengthen their industries and enhance their global competitiveness. She expressed belief that through thorough discussions, Taiwan and the U.S. could reach a consensus on trade issues.

President Lai Ching-te has reiterated Taiwan’s stance of not launching retaliatory measures in response to U.S. tariffs and instead aims to negotiate with the Trump administration toward a “zero tariff” arrangement, modeled on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Lai acknowledged the “significant impact” that the 32 percent tariff would have on Taiwan’s economy but urged the public not to panic, citing Taiwan’s strong economic fundamentals.

Taiwan remains on the latest U.S. list of trading partners with non-tariff barriers, according to a report released by the Office of the United States Trade Representative on March 31, just days before Trump announced the reciprocal tariffs.