What is it about?
This research explores how Taiwan and the United States can strengthen their collaboration on trade, climate change, and energy. Against the backdrop of the 2024 presidential elections in both countries and ongoing negotiations under the Taiwan-U.S. Initiative on 21st Century Trade, the study assesses their efforts to promote green economic growth and tackle sustainability challenges. It argues that integrating climate, sustainability, and energy priorities into trade discussions could position Taiwan and the U.S. to establish an innovative green economy agreement, similar to the 2022 Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement. Additionally, the research highlights opportunities to expand this collaboration onto global platforms such as APEC, IPEF, and the WTO, contributing to the development of international policy frameworks.
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Why is it important?
This research is timely, coming at a pivotal moment after the 2024 presidential elections in both Taiwan and the U.S., when new policies on trade and climate change are being developed. What sets this paper apart is its focus on the Taiwan-U.S. partnership within the broader global effort to tackle climate change and energy sustainability. Unlike many studies that treat trade and climate change separately, this work integrates both areas to propose a green-focused bilateral trade agreement. It examines how the Taiwan-U.S. Initiative on 21st Century Trade could serve as a model for future international collaboration on sustainability. The paper provides fresh insights into the potential for these nations to lead by example and drive positive global change, with implications for major international platforms like APEC and the WTO.
Perspectives
This publication holds a special place for me as it embodies my deep belief in the power of international collaboration to address critical challenges like climate change, energy transition, and sustainability. With a passion for creating the synergies of international economic and environmental policy, I have practiced law in these fields and served as legal counsel for the Taiwanese government since 2010. My experiences working with the U.S. Federal EPA in Washington, D.C., and collaborating on transnational law enforcement, citizen participation, and technological innovation have been especially rewarding. This experience has inspired me to explore how countries can leverage their unique strengths to drive the green economy. Writing this paper has strengthened my conviction that small and medium-sized economies like Taiwan can play a crucial role in shaping sustainable growth. I hope this research sparks meaningful dialogue and action, not only between Taiwan and the U.S., but globally, to create lasting solutions for future generations.
Dr Chung-Han Yang
University of Cambridge
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Evaluating Taiwan – U.S. Bilateral Engagements in the Trade-Climate Change-Energy Nexus, December 2024, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004719934_012.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Our research at C-EENRG, University of Cambridge
More relevant research at C-EENRG University of Cambridge
USTR Announces Entry into Force of First Agreement under U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade
United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai today announced that the first agreement under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade will enter into force tomorrow. This agreement was signed on June 1, 2023 by representatives of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) and includes commitments on anticorruption, good regulatory practices, services domestic regulation, customs administration and trade facilitation, and small and medium-sized enterprises.
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2025 ILA-ASIL Asia-Pacific Research Forum, Sustainable International Law, July 7-8, 2025, Taipei, Taiwan
The Research Center for International Legal Studies of National Chengchi University and the Chinese (Taiwan) Society of International Law will hold the 2025 ILA-ASIL Asia-Pacific Research Forum at Howard Civil Service International House in Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. The theme of the Research Forum is “Sustainable International Law.” The Research Forum aims to provide a forum for academics, private practitioners, and government attorneys to present works-in-progress across the spectrum of international and transnational law issues related to the Asia-Pacific. We look forward to welcoming you to Taiwan! Inquiries can be directed to the Organizing Committee at ila@nccu.edu.tw.
International Law Association (ILA) Chinese (Taiwan) Branch
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Contributors
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