Taiwan and Michigan discuss drone partnership and tax pact to boost investment

President William Lai hosted Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in Taipei, where they outlined plans to expand cooperation on drone technology and to fast-track a double-taxation avoidance agreement aimed at creating a friendlier investment climate. Whitmer praised Taiwan’s democratic governance and noted that Taiwanese firms are already active in Michigan’s automotive electronics and chip-design projects. She also announced a sister-city relationship between Taichung and Oakland County, marking her third Taiwan visit in as many years.

Lai referenced the State of Michigan Taiwan Office’s role in fostering trade, talent, and technology exchanges, and thanked Michigan legislators for repeated pro-Taiwan resolutions. The dialogue underscored complementary strengths: Michigan’s automotive and smart-transport expertise and Taiwan’s semiconductor and smart-manufacturing capabilities, with the tax pact expected to spur deeper industrial clusters.