The Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act of 2025
A bill was introduced in the Senate of the United States on May 22, 2025, which aims to require the Secretary of the Treasury to pursue more equitable treatment of Taiwan at international financial institutions.
Section 1: Short Title
This Act may be cited as the “Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act of 2025”.
SECTION 2. FINDINGS
Congress finds as follows:
- A s enshrined in its Articles of Agreement, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is devoted to promoting international monetary cooperation, facilitating the expansion and balanced growth of international trade, encouraging exchange stability, and avoiding competitive exchange depreciation.
- Taiwan is the 21st largest economy in the world and the 10th largest goods trading partner of the United States.
- Although Taiwan is not an IMF member, it is a member of the World Trade Organization, the Asian Development Bank, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
- According to the January 2020 Report on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States, published by the Department of the Treasury, Taiwan held $471,900,000,000 in foreign exchange reserves, more than major economies such as India, South Korea, and Brazil.
- According to section 4(d) of the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–8), enacted on April 10, 1979, “Nothing in this Act may be construed as a basis for supporting the exclusion or expulsion of Taiwan from continued membership in any international financial institution or any other international organization.”
- Taiwan held membership in the IMF for 91 years following the recognition of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) by the United Nations, and 16 Taiwan staff members at the Fund were allowed to continue their employment after the PRC was seated at the IMF in 1980.
- As James M. Boughton has noted in his Silent Revolution: The International Monetary Fund 1979–1989, even as the PRC was seated, the United States Executive Director to the IMF, Sam Y. Cross, expressed support on behalf of the United States Government for “some kind of association between Taiwan and the Fund.”
- On October 26, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement in support of Taiwan’s “robust, meaningful participation” in the United Nations system, which includes the IMF, the World Bank, and other specialized United Nations agencies.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS
It is the sense of the Congress that:
- The size, significance, and connectedness of the Taiwanese economy highlight the importance of greater participation by Taiwan in the International Monetary Fund, given the purposes of the Fund articulated in its Articles of Agreement.
- The experience of Taiwan in developing a vibrant and advanced economy under democratic governance and the rule of law should inform the work of the international financial institutions, including through increased participation by Taiwan in the institutions.
SEC. 4. SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN ADMISSION TO THE IMF
(a) IN GENERAL.—The United States Governor of the International Monetary Fund (in this section referred to as the “Fund”) shall use the voice and vote of the United States to vigorously support:
- The admission of Taiwan as a member of the Fund, to the extent that admission is sought by Taiwan;
- Participation by Taiwan in regular surveillance activities of the Fund with respect to the economic and financial policies of Taiwan, consistent with Article IV consultation procedures of the Fund;
- Employment opportunities for Taiwan nationals, without regard to any consideration that, in the determination of the United States Governor, does not generally restrict the employment of nationals of member countries of the Fund;
- The ability of Taiwan to receive appropriate technical assistance and training by the Fund.
(b) UNITED STATES POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States not to discourage or otherwise deter Taiwan from seeking admission as a member of the Fund.
(c) WAIVER.—The Secretary of the Treasury may waive any requirement of subsection (a) for up to 1 year at a time on reporting to Congress that providing the waiver will substantially promote the objective of securing the meaningful participation of Taiwan at each international financial institution (as defined in section 1701(c)(2) of the International Financial Institutions Act).
(d) SUNSET.—This section shall have no force or effect on the earlier of:
- The date of approval by the Board of Governors of the Fund for the admission of Taiwan as a member of the Fund;
- The date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 5. TESTIMONY REQUIREMENT
In each of the next 7 years in which the Secretary of the Treasury is required by section 1705(b) of the International Financial Institutions Act to present testimony, the Secretary shall include in the testimony a description of the efforts of the United States to support the greatest participation practicable by Taiwan at each international financial institution (as defined in section 1701(c)(2) of such Act).