Taiwan's Q4 GDP grows at its fastest pace in nearly 2 years, but momentum is slowing

Taipei

TAIWAN'S economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly two years in the fourth quarter on strong demand for its technology products, but rising global trade protectionism is clouding the outlook.

While the trade-dependent economy has recovered from a brief recession in late 2015, its fortunes could deteriorate again on trade frictions, especially between the United States and China, its two largest trading partners.

The withdrawal of the US from a broad trans-Pacific trade pact could have wider implications for Asian exporters such as Taiwan. "The impact and subsequent measures by the United States' protectionist policy of backing out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership will be watched," Jack Huang, an official with …