内容摘要：Woods’ mother attended the news conference but did not speak.

Woods’ mother attended the news conference but did not speak.

Rep. Bruce Westerman, chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, told Lai that the U.S. produces a lot of food and fiber and is “always looking for more friends to share that with.”Trade and economic ties between Taiwan and the U.S. have grown closer in recent years. The island faces rising pressure from China, which sees the island as part of Chinese territory and vows to annex it, by force if necessary.

Washington is bound by its own laws to provide Taipei with the means to defend itself, and politicians — both Republicans and Democrats — have come to believe it is in the U.S. interest to deter Beijing from attacking Taiwan.Many policymakers and analysts have argued that arming Taiwan includes not onlyso the island is less vulnerable to economic coercion from the mainland.

The U.S. is now the top destination for Taiwan’s foreign investments, includingto build factories in Arizona to make advanced chips. The island also is the 7th largest market for U.S. agricultural exports, Lai said.

However, the U.S. buys far more from Taiwan and had a trade deficit of $116.3 billion in 2024, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

The 32% tariff, as proposed by President Donald Trump as part of his sweeping tariff plan, is on hold except a 10% baseline duty. Earlier this month, Lai“It’s a very concerning practice. We don’t know who these individuals are or what they’re doing with this information,” said Abed Ayoub, national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. “Essentially the administration is outsourcing surveillance.”

It’s unclear whether names from outside groups have reached top government officials. But concern about the pursuit of activists has risen since the March 8, a Columbia University graduate student of Palestinian descent who helped lead demonstrations against Israel’s conduct of the war.

Student negotiator Mahmoud Khalil is seen at a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on the Columbia University campus in New York, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)Student negotiator Mahmoud Khalil is seen at a pro-Palestinian protest encampment on the Columbia University campus in New York, April 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)