Taiwan’s top trade negotiators touched down in Washington, DC, this week for their fourth round of talks with the Trump administration.

A preliminary date has been set for the next round of trade negotiations with the US regarding US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, Deputy Trade Representative Yen Huai-shing (顏慧欣) said today.

US-China trade talks will be the main event of the week, along with China’s July purchasing managers’ index. Other key data reports are expected from South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. The Bank of Japan is seen leaving rates unchanged

In two weeks, the Trump administration will reveal the findings of a national security investigation into semiconductor imports, possibly leading to new tariffs. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated this investigation is integral to ongoing trade negotiations with the European Union.

Negotiations over US tariffs on Taiwan involve “give and take” from both countries, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺) said yesterday, adding that the talks are ongoing and progressing well. He made the remarks to reporters at the Legislative Yuan before attending a Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee meeting.

Taiwan's state-owned energy company CPC Corp said it is not in talks for "specific" shale gas fields in the United States, but it does not rule out any prospective partners and will make the most favourable decision based on its own evaluations.

Yet analysts say the Chinese leader is likely holding out for concrete deliverables before agreeing to the high-profile meeting. Trump dramatically escalated the trade war with the world's second-largest economy in April, rolling out sweeping new tariffs that prompted China to respond with its own export duties and other measures.

Taiwan's domestic and imported car markets have long been locked in a delicate tug-of-war. In 2024, local vehicles held a narrow lead with a 52% market share, compared to 48% for imports. But that balance could be upended if the latest trade rumors prove true.