Taiwan and the United Kingdom Sign Three Pillar Arrangements to Enhance Trade Partnership

Office of Trade Negotiations, Executive Yuan

June 30, 2025

Taiwan and the United Kingdom Sign Three Pillar Arrangements to Enhance Trade Partnership

 

On June 30 in Taipei, Ambassador Vincent Chin-Hsiang Yao, Representative of the Taipei Representative Office in the United Kingdom, and Ms. Ruth Bradley-Jones MBE, Representative of the British Office Taipei, officially signed three pillar arrangements under the Taiwan–UK Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP), marking a new milestone in bilateral economic relations. The arrangements include the Taiwan–UK ETP Digital Trade Arrangement, Taiwan–UK ETP Energy and Net Zero Arrangement, and Taiwan–UK ETP Investment Arrangement.

 

Following the signing of the Enhanced Trade Partnership in November 2023, both sides committed to launching negotiations in line with global economic trends. Over the past two years, negotiations on digital trade, energy and net-zero, and investment were successfully concluded, leading to today’s signing.

 

Ambassador Yao emphasized Taiwan’s strategic role in the Indo-Pacific as a key hub for the global semiconductor and ICT supply chains, as well as a leader in digital innovation and energy transition. The UK, renowned for its strengths in R&D, digital technology, renewable energy, and financial services, is a natural partner. Through the ETP, both economies aim to enhance economic security and supply chain resilience. Taiwan will continue to be a reliable and trusted partner to the UK in building a more resilient, sustainable, and prosperous future.

 

Representative Bradley-Jones expressed her delight in signing the three arrangements, noting that since assuming office in February, many stakeholders have highlighted this partnership as a tangible symbol of growing Taiwan–UK trade ties. The shared ambition to drive growth in strategic industries is clearly reflected in both the UK’s newly launched Modern Industrial Strategy and Taiwan's Five Trusted Industry Sectors, which align in both scale and vision. Through cooperation, the two sides can maximize mutual strengths and achieve shared growth.

 

Jen-Ni Yang, Minister and Trade Representative, Taiwan, noted that the UK is the world’s sixth-largest economy and Taiwan’s fourth-largest trading partner in Europe, while Taiwan ranks as the UK’s eighth-largest trading partner in the Indo-Pacific. The UK is also Taiwan’s second-largest source of foreign direct investment and its third-largest investment destination in Europe. Since Brexit, the UK has pursued an outward-facing trade policy and regards Taiwan as a priority partner. The new arrangements demonstrate a shared commitment to trade policy dialogue and collaboration, paving the way for Taiwanese businesses to expand globally through concrete cooperation plans in key sectors.

 

The Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Minister of State for Business and Trade, the UK, welcomed the signing of the three arrangements, each representing a significant opportunity. Taiwan is already a key market in the UK’s clean energy supply chain and holds strong growth potential. In terms of investment, the increasing bilateral flows will jointly support strategic sectors such as technology and advanced manufacturing. The Digital Trade Pioneer Initiative, launched under the ETP, has proven highly valuable for businesses. The UK’s newly published Trade Strategy highlights a recalibrated approach to international trade—focused on promoting UK strengths and protecting national interests—and the ETP exemplifies this strategy by offering flexible frameworks to support trade and investment in critical industries.

 

The Taiwan–UK Digital Trade Arrangement, Taiwan’s first digital trade arrangement with a trading partner, establishes shared principles for an open, inclusive, secure, and fair digital trade environment. It safeguards business and consumer rights, ensures cybersecurity in supply chains, reduces business operating costs, and creates new digital opportunities.

 

The Energy and Net-Zero Arrangement is Taiwan’s first international green trade arrangement. It reflects a joint commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and addressing climate change while ensuring long-term energy security. The agreement facilitates clean energy transition and the growth of green industries, with the UK positioning itself as a clean energy leader and Taiwan advancing through its “Five Net-Zero Transition Strategies.”

 

The Investment Arrangement promotes two-way investment, streamlines procedures, and advocates for inclusive investment policies, especially for women and MSMEs. For the first time, the Taiwan–UK arrangement includes commitments to a fair investment environment, alignment with international investment standards, and rules ensuring state-owned enterprises operate on a commercial basis and compete fairly with private entities. Both sides will also engage in dialogue on subsidy policies, reflecting their shared commitment to fair trade and market transparency. The arranegment will serve as a foundation for future collaboration in strategic industries and improvements to investment screening mechanisms.

 

The Executive Yuan’s Office of Trade Negotiations extends its sincere appreciation to all participating ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Digital Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture, Fair Trade Commission, Financial Supervisory Commission, National Development Council, Council of Indigenous Peoples, Public Construction Commission, Department of Gender Equality, Consumer Protection Committee, Personal Data Protection Office (in preparation), National Communications Commission, Taiwan International Ports Corporation, and the Taipei Representative Office in the UK. Their close coordination made this achievement possible. Moving forward, the Office will work with all stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the arrangements and tangible benefits for Taiwanese businesses.

 

Media Contact:

Mr. Hsu Chung-Chin, Executive Secretary

Mobile: +886-975-722-938

Tel: +886-2-2389-1999

 

Annex I: Overview of the Three Taiwan–UK ETP Arrangements

Annex II: Taiwan–UK Bilateral Trade and Economic Relations

Annex III: The UK’s External Trade Strategy and International Partnerships