The US and Taiwan finalized a trade deal that will see Washington cap tariffs on Taiwanese imports, a boost to Taipei’s crucial semiconductor sector, in return for a $250 billion investment to expand chipmaking on American soil. The announcement — which comes a month after the two agreed their biggest-ever arms deal — highlights deepening relations: Taipei has at times expressed worry , since President Donald Trump returned to office, over the steadfastness of US backing in the face of growing pressure from China on Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a renegade province. The trade deal also cements Taiwan’s central role in global chipmaking , a day after semiconductor behemoth TSMC pledged to spend as much as $56 billion on strengthening its manufacturing capacity. — Prashant Rao