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Benefits of the US-Taiwan FTA » Sector by Sector
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A United States-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will enhance the strong relationship between our two democratic countries by expanding trade and investment, promoting economic security, and creating new opportunities for workers and businesses in the US and Taiwan.
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EDUCATION and TAIWAN  
A Partner for Growth: An FTA will solidify U.S. leadership and increase business opportunities in this rapidly expanding industry.
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Higher education is increasingly seen not only as a national public service, but also as an international commodity. With the U.S. being a particularly competitive supplier of higher education services, an FTA with Taiwan offers U.S. education services providers with an especially attractive opportunity to expand market share both in Taiwan and for students from Taiwan pursuing studies in the United States.
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Over 27,000 Taiwanese students studied in the U.S. in 2006, an 80% increase from 2005. International education remains a high priority for many students and parents in Taiwan, and an FTA would increase the share of the that business directed towards the U.S.
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As the birth rate continues to drop in Taiwan, parents will be investing more in each childˇ¦s education. According to the Department of Commerce, this will translate into rapidly expanding demand for boarding high schools in the U.S., constituting a major net gain for U.S. institutions.
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An increasing number of U.S. language institutions, such as Princeton Review and Kaplan, are seeking access to foreign markets. Intensive English Programs in the U.S. enrolled 5,126 students from Taiwan in 2005, a 21% increase from the previous year.
A Primed Market: An FTA will create high value-added work for U.S. businesses and institutions.
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Because of the declining quality of teaching in Taiwan, the government is concerned that the workforce is losing its competitive edge. Therefore, they are encouraging students to go overseas for long or short-term study. Incentives offered by the Taiwanese government include plentiful scholarships, low-interest student loans, and subsidies to universities that create successful initiatives for sending students abroad.
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The best prospects for U.S. education organizations in Taiwan are business programs, engineering programs, boarding high schools, and short-term Intensive English Programs, according to a report by the Department of Commerce.
THE NUMBERS
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27,876
The total number of Taiwanese students studying in the U.S. in 2006
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80
Percent increase in Taiwanese studying in the U.S. from 2005 to 2006
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48
U.S. share of the international student recruitment market in Taiwan.
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THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP: A U.S.-Taiwan FTA holds great promise for both U.S. and Taiwanese companies and workers. The agreement will bring with it new dynamism that will keep U.S.-Taiwan economic relations vital and strong. We look forward to working together with you to make this historic agreement a reality.
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