I. Background
The Taiwan ASEAN Studies Center (TASC) of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER) is dedicated to serving as a collaborative platform for industry, government, and academia on critical Southeast Asian issues by consistently hosting the “Southeast Asia Economic and Trade Promotion Platform Meeting.” To assist stakeholders in understanding the Trump administration’s tariff policies and their intersection with Southeast Asian dynamics, the TASC will convene its 21st platform meeting on June 2, 2026. Co-organized by the Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI), the seminar is themed: “The One-Year Anniversary of the Trump Administration’s Tariff Policies: Impacts on ASEAN Supply Chains, AI Development, and New Trends in Taiwanese Investment.”
Following his return to the White House on January 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump advanced a new tariff regime under the “America First” banner, aiming to compel manufacturing reshoring and reduce the foreign trade deficit through elevated tariffs. After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the “Reciprocal Tariffs” as unlawful on February 20, 2026, the Trump administration swiftly invoked Section 122 to levy a new 10% global tariff. Subsequently, on March 12, Washington announced the initiation of Section 301 trade investigations into 60 economies, encompassing major global players such as China, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Thailand.
As the Trump administration’s tariff policies mark their first anniversary, they have exerted a profound impact on global trade and the relocation of Southeast Asian supply chains. ASEAN is at the center of global supply chain restructuring and is highly sensitive to tariff fluctuations and changing geopolitical dynamics—factors that directly influence the overseas investment strategies of Taiwanese companies. Concurrently, emerging AI-driven industries have catalyzed a wave of Taiwanese investments in advanced manufacturing and data centers across Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam since 2025. This momentum is poised to become a focal point for Taiwan to further solidify its cooperation with ASEAN nations. Other emerging technologies and critical minerals are also expected to unlock substantial commercial opportunities, pointing to a highly promising outlook. Furthermore, as the Philippines has steadily emerged as a strategic priority for U.S. foreign cooperation in recent years, it is imperative to explore the latest business prospects within this rising ASEAN star.
The seminar will commence with opening remarks by Hung-Hsun Lin, Deputy Director-General of the Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Following this, Emile M.P. Chang, Director General of the Department of Investment Promotion at the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), will deliver a keynote address on “The Latest Trends in Taiwanese Investment and Strategic Positioning in ASEAN.” Yun-Hsi Chung, Associate Analyst at the Center, will then present on “ASEAN’s Foreign Economic Policies and Supply Chain Cooperation Trends Under Trump 2.0.” Next, Kristy Hsu, Director of the Center, will report on “New Highlights in U.S.-ASEAN Tech and Critical Mineral Supply Chain Cooperation: The Philippines.” The event will conclude with a comprehensive panel discussion themed “Southeast Asian AI Industry Trends and Taiwanese Business Opportunities Amid the AI Wave,” moderated by Director Kristy Hsu. The distinguished panel will feature Emile M.P. Chang (Director General, Department of Investment Promotion, MOEA), Peter Wu (General Manager, ASUS Cloud and Taiwan Web Service Corporation), Carson Lee (Technology, Media & Telecommunications Industry Moderator, KPMG Taiwan), and Steve Chien (Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Taiwanese Compatriot Association in the Philippines). Together, they will engage in an in-depth dialogue examining the impact of Trump’s policies on ASEAN supply chains and AI development, alongside broader Taiwanese investment trends. This platform meeting will be hosted virtually and conducted entirely in Mandarin Chinese. We cordially invite professionals and stakeholders from all sectors to register and participate!
II. Conference Information
Date & Time: Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 14:00–16:30 (Taipei Time)
Language: Conducted entirely in Mandarin Chinese
Venue: Virtual Meeting (The meeting link will be provided upon successful registration)
Registration Link: http://seminar.cier.edu.tw/Regfrm.asp?id=20260602
Registration Deadline: Open now (Participants will receive relevant event information within three days of a successful registration)
Advising Agency: Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Executive Organizer: Taiwan ASEAN Studies Center (TASC), Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER)
Co-Organizer: Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI)
Contact Information: Ms. Liu, TASC | Tel: 02-2735-6006 ext. 3121 or 3122
III. Conference Agenda
| Time | Agenda |
| 13:30-14:00 | Sign-in |
| 14:00-14:10 | Opening Remarks Hung-Hsun Lin, Deputy Director-General, Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) |
| Keynote Presentations | |
| Moderator: Kristy Hsu, Director, TASC, CIER | |
| 14:10-14:40 | Topic I: The Latest Trends in Taiwanese Investment and Strategic Positioning in ASEAN Speaker: Emile M.P. Chang, Director General, Department of Investment Promotion, Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) |
| 14:40-15:10 | Topic II: ASEAN’s Foreign Economic Policies and Supply Chain Cooperation Trends Under Trump 2.0 Speaker: Yun-Hsi Chung, Associate Analyst, TASC, CIER |
| 15:10-15:40 | Topic III: New Highlights in U.S.-ASEAN Tech and Critical Mineral Supply Chain Cooperation: The Philippines Speaker: Kristy Hsu, Director, TASC, CIER |
| Panel Discussion: Southeast Asian AI Industry Trends and Taiwanese Business Opportunities Amid the AI Wave | |
| 15:40-16:30 | Moderator Kristy Hsu, Director, TASC, CIER Panelists: Emile M.P. Chang, Director General, Department of Investment Promotion, MOEA Peter Wu, General Manager, ASUS Cloud and Taiwan Web Service Corporation Carson Lee, Technology, Media & Telecommunications Industry Moderator, KPMG Taiwan Steve Chien, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Taiwanese Compatriot Association in the Philippines |
| 16:30 | Adjournment |
