24/01/2026
The USVI A Nearshoring Catalyst To Onshore US Supply Chain From Indo-Pacific Region
On Monday, January 26, 2026 Governor Albert Bryan Jr will deliver his 8th and final State of the Territory Address (SOTA) to the people of the US Virgin Islands, which will mark his last year in office. A notable area of strategic geopolitical and macroeconomic development and alignment is Taiwan & Asian-Pacific Region, CARICOM member countries, and private sector organizations (CARICOM PSO), and most recently the country of Ghana & West Africa. When Governor Bryan Jr delivers the final SOTA, there will be Diplomatic Delegations from both Taiwan and Ghana. The visiting Taiwanese Diplomatic Delegation will be led by Mr. Charles Chi-Yu Chou, Director General, accompanied by Mr. Frank You, Director, Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Miami Consulate Office.
The Diplomatic Delegation will officially be received and greeted by Governor Bryan Jr, Senate President Milton Potter, Senator Hubert Frederick (Chairman, Committee of Economic Development & Agriculture), Senator Novell E. Francis Jr (Chair, Committee of Finance & Former Senate President) and other members of the Legislature, Mr. Wayne Biggs, CEO of EDA and Senior Staff Member Mark Finch, and Anthony Weeks, Special Economic Envoy to Taiwan & Asia-Pacific Region, and Chairman & CEO of SEDI-CASE.
The Trump Administration has negotiated and signed these 3 separate major trade investment deals with Taiwan-$250 Billion, South Korea-$350 Billion, Japan-$550 Billion, with a 15% Tariff with each of these Countries as US Trade Partners for investments into the US! A total investment commitment in access of over $1 Trillion! Both Japan and South Korea are very close geopolitical and economic allies of Taiwan. https://caribbeanamericassingleeconomy.com/news
The Taiwanese government promised to guarantee $250 billion in credit to its chip and technology companies to expand their production capacity in the U.S. Taiwanese companies will also enjoy higher quotas for tariff-free imports of their chips into the U.S.
In return, Washington would lower its levies on most goods from Taiwan to 15% from 20%, and waive tariffs on generic drugs and ingredients, aircraft components and natural resources unavailable domestically. The goal is to bring 40% of Taiwan’s entire semiconductor supply chain to the U.S.
The U.S. and South Korea agreed to the "Korea Strategic Trade and Investment Deal," a major framework where South Korea pledged $350 billion in investments in U.S. sectors like shipbuilding, energy, and semiconductors, in exchange for the U.S. capping tariffs on Korean goods at 15%.
Investment & Tariffs: South Korea will invest $350 billion in U.S. strategic sectors, including $150 billion in shipbuilding, with the U.S. setting a 15% tariff rate on Korean imports. Key Sectors: The deal heavily impacts automobiles, auto parts, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, AI, and critical minerals.
The U.S.-Japan strategic trade and investment agreement is a deal where Japan pledged $550 billion in investments for U.S. industries (focusing on manufacturing, energy, and semiconductors) in exchange for a capped 15% tariff on most Japanese imports. The agreement, implemented in September 2025, aims to reduce the trade deficit, increase U.S. agricultural exports to Japan, and includes provisions for Japanese auto industry access, with projects largely selected by the U.S.
A trade and economic bilateral cooperative relations exchange between Taiwan and USVI can further mitigate the tariff impact for these Countries by leveraging the St. Croix South Shore Free Trade Zone to bring exponential value for trade, commerce and investments into USVI by extension of US Trade deals with these countries, and labeled "Made In the USA" and entry into the US Mainland.
This is an opportunity that we have in the calendar year 2026, a follow-up USVI Delegation to Taiwan, establishing the USVI Trade and Investment/Free Trade Zone Office, and Taiwan establishing a trade hub in St. Croix. This is the primary objective of the upcoming Taiwan Diplomatic Delegation visit to attend SOTA and to tour the South Shore Free Trade Zone visit for the very first time, and to implement the 2026 agenda between the USVI-Taiwan to foster new investments, attracting new industries to diversify the USVI Economy, the creation of new local businesses and jobs.
US Congressional Proposed Bills to watch that will greatly benefit the USVI:
1). The Western Hemisphere Nearshoring Act (H.R. 509 for 2025-2026, previously H.R. 722) is a bipartisan U.S. legislative proposal aimed at reducing reliance on Chinese manufacturing while curbing migration by incentivizing companies to move operations to Latin America and the Caribbean. It provides financing for relocation, workforce training, and duty-free access for goods, Sponsored by Congressman Mark Green.
2). The DiasporaLink Act (H.R. 3385/1737) is a bipartisan congressional bill introduced by Delegate Stacey Plaskett (U.S. Virgin Islands) designed to establish a feasibility study for a new submarine fiber-optic cable system connecting the continental United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. Current Status (118th/119th Congress): The bill has passed the U.S. House of Representatives multiple times with bipartisan, unanimous support from the House Energy & Commerce Committee. As of June 2025, the legislation was sent to the Senate, with the office of Congresswoman Plaskett working to facilitate its passage there.
Purpose: To require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to conduct a study on the feasibility, security implications, and cost of a fiber-optic cable linking the U.S. East Coast to West Africa via the USVI. Strategic Importance: The initiative aims to enhance national security, strengthen data communication with Africa, and provide a secure, high-capacity, and redundant connection for global commerce.
Regional Economic Development: It is intended to turn the U.S. Virgin Islands into a technological and telecommunications hub, creating high-tech jobs and stimulating digital economic growth in the territory.
About SEDI-CASE: SEDI, Inc, St. Croix Economic Development Initiative (SEDI) & Caribbean Americas Single Economy (CASE), a macroeconomic and public policy strategic planning economic development, research and development non-profit think tank organization based in Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands. Please contact Anthony Weeks at (914)574-1213 or to learn more visit https://caribbeanamericassingleeconomy.com/news & www.3rdWallStreet.com
