TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Wednesday that Taiwan’s tariff talks with the US have concluded with strategic results.

Speaking at a DPP Central Executive Committee meeting, Lai thanked Vice Premier Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君) for leading nine months of negotiations that wrapped up last week, per CNA.

Lai said the agreement lowers Taiwan’s reciprocal tariffs to 15% without stacking. He said the deal places Taiwan on the same footing as Japan, South Korea and the EU.

He added that Taiwan became the first country to receive the most favorable treatment under the US Section 232 provision. Lai also said the talks secured supply-chain cooperation with Washington under a Taiwan model.

Under this framework, Lai said Taiwanese companies will invest up to NT$7.9 trillion (US$250 billion) in the US based on their own strategies. He stressed that the government will not direct or mandate those investments.

Lai said the government will act only as a credit guarantor to support bank financing, subject to assessments and without using guarantee funds. He said this would avoid crowding out credit for domestic small businesses.

Lai said the agreement will help Taiwan’s industries gain an edge in global expansion. He called on central and local governments, as well as ruling and opposition parties, to work together to advance Taiwan’s national development.