舊金山灣區台灣商會
第卅一屆新春晚會
Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco Bay Area
The 31st Annual Banquet
加州的整體經濟和狀況
The Overall Economy and State of California
記者會、 演講會、 早餐會
2月21日年會流程
剪影
主持人/MC：周憶貞Jane Chou、張志仰Chih-Yang Chang
17:00 - 18:00 記者會 何淑貞、楊燿宏、謝鎮寬陪同 Yolanda Benson 出席
17:30 - 18:00 會員來賓報到及聯誼 Registration and Social
18:00 晚會正式開始 開場儀式(楊燿宏扮財神爺進場 God of Wealth Greeting
18:00 - 18:10 開場儀式 Opening
18:15 - 18:15 介紹在場貴賓Introduction of VIPs and Guests
18:15 - 18:25 介紹歷屆會長 Introduction of Past Presidents
18:25 - 18:35 會長致詞 TCCSFBA President Speech
18:35 - 18:45 貴賓致詞 VIP Speeches
18:45 - 19:20 晚宴開始 Dinner Begins & Group Photo
19:20 - 20:10 專題演講Keynote Speech & Q&A
謝鎮寬介紹 主講嘉賓 Opening Introduction by John Hsieh
主講人： Yolanda Benson, President of Government Strategies, Inc
講題：The Overall Economy and State of California 加州的整體經濟和狀況
20:10 - 20:40 MC：青商 曾智瑩Jill Tseng and 週煊茂 Shawn Chou
餘興節目抽獎 Entertainment / Raffle Drawing
抽獎 Raffle Drawing
舞蹈 Believer by 狄佩華、小燕子、陳慧彬、賀淑君、田主玉
帶動唱 ：愛你by青商團隊
抽獎Raffle Drawing
歌舞：Mojito by 周威均、蔣美玉、狄佩華、小燕子、陳慧彬、賀淑君、田主玉、周憶貞、洪
恕君、何佳民、張瓏
抽獎Raffle Drawing
街舞：星期五晚上by 周威均、小燕子、康閎
歌唱：第一愛的人by青商團隊
街舞：康閎
抽獎Raffle Drawing
媒體報導
中央社：最高法院推翻關稅 美策略專家：反增加中國競爭力
經濟日報：最高法院推翻關稅 美策略專家：反增加中國競爭力
三立新聞網：最高法院推翻關稅 美策略專家：反增加中國競爭力
Yahoo：美策略專家班森出席舊金山台灣商會活動 (圖)
美國看台：川普關稅被推翻美專家：中國贏麻了
E南洋：美國最高法院推翻川普關稅策略專家:反增加中國競爭力
記者會口譯
還有一位女士，她負責所有國際貿易，嗯，她曾經邀請我去一個很棒的地方。 所以我覺得很有意思，嗯，我代表加州商會，嗯，你們大約有81.3萬名會員。 我知道你們的企業數量沒有那麼多。 可能現在… 西班牙裔社區，但你們有30億會員，這很驚人。你們的企業數量沒有那麼多… 可能是因為… 什麼原因？哦，是的。哦，是的。我問的是……哦，是你們……你們……你們的企業？不，我是說企業數量。 哦，我肯定是因為，據我了解，你們在科技創新領域。那是你們的領域。那是你們的優勢所在。所以我不會感到驚訝。我會說是的，但我沒有具體的答案。是的。布倫達，她喜歡把這個夾子夾住。 太好了。我還以為彼得會來。呃，總之，等麗塔回來吧。麗塔回來。她試著找人幫忙扶著它。讓我走吧。 今天。我想還有兩位。一位來自……呃……南希，南希來自……不，不是來自綜合新聞社。 中央新聞社。好的。 就剩兩位了。是的，還有兩位。我應該馬上就到了。所以，呃，我只是問問，只是聊聊，沒有特別的。這是其中的一部分，不是其中的一部分。 好的。歡迎各位媒體朋友。呃，這位是我們的主題演講嘉賓格蘭達。 回答你們所有的問題，在我們正式開始之前，我們先點名一下，請各位介紹一下自己，來自哪個媒體。從……開始，好的，從……開始。大家好，我是你們頻道的電視記者。 南希，來自中央音樂。 這是你們的音樂。 好的。 是的。 所以，我是主編。 Jen，可以簡單介紹一下嗎？好的，我是Jen Jen，現任台灣商務廳廳長。非常感謝。我們非常榮幸能邀請您今晚擔任演講嘉賓。很激動。迫不及待想聽聽您的演講。我跟您說，演講肯定不會只有45分鐘，因為晚餐後，大家都會說：「好了，現在輪到你了。」 嗯，好的。您想講什麼都可以。我想今天最重要的新聞是關於最高法院的。他們做出了一項新的判決。您有什麼要說的嗎？這比較是聯邦層級的事情，而我的工作主要是在州一級，與加州州議會、州長及其政府合作。我們不太了解這方面的情況。好的。因為很多事情都發生在…
這絕對是加州努力想要解決的問題。嗯，我想說，州議會裡大多數民主黨人可能都很高興，因為他們覺得自己做了什麼。不過，我聽說，顯然加州從關稅中獲得了大量資金，而且他們顯然有能力做到這一點。嗯，所以，2月12日加州和台灣達成了一項互惠協議，我認為這對加州的進出口業務尤其有幫助。是的。加州非常清楚出口的重要性。我記得我的筆記裡寫著，出口是加州第四大出口產業。所以，出口非常重要。所以，你主要關注加州的經濟。我主要關注加州。我很榮幸曾為三位州長工作。因此，我親眼見證了加州這些年來的變化。嗯，你知道，我上一任州長是阿諾‧史瓦辛格，他非常關心就業。嗯，你知道，我們曾經有很多項目來幫助加州的企業成長。但這些項目一點一點地被削減了。今晚我的演講中我會談到一些仍然存在的項目，也提到了一些機會，但我們仍然缺少一些很棒的項目，例如研發稅收抵免。我們現在沒有這項政策了。嗯，我以前代表過企業區，企業區是指企業可以獲得稅收減免和招聘抵免的地方，無論企業規模大小，招聘都是一項非常難得的優惠政策。現在加州在這方面也面臨競爭。嗯，這項稅收抵免是由州長經濟發展辦公室提供的，但我們假裝自己是大公司，儘管我們獲得了大量的資金。當然，我沒有看到任何小型企業獲得任何資金。嗯，儘管一些優秀的企業獲得了特殊科學領域的資助，尤其是在科技領域。嗯，關於加州競爭的一些精彩故事確實不少，但只有180個。你提到了三位州長。另外兩位是誰？我得先說說我的年齡。嗯，喬治州長。好的。還有皮特威爾遜州長和……當然。是的。我曾在加州環境保護局的有毒物質控制部門為威爾遜州長工作。所以，嗯，是的，我對政府官僚的了解很多。我以前的工作之一是，對於立法機構提出的每項法案或提案，都會分配給州政府的特定部門。然後，他們會撰寫一份分析報告，說明法案的內容，並需要說明其財政和經濟影響。他們總是說「未知」或「微不足道」。我會問他們，你們的研究在哪裡，能夠證明法案對企業的影響，以及具體的影響是什麼？然後他們會說：「哦，好吧，這其實並不重要，因為這件事更重要，因為你正在做的事情比它會如何影響商業更重要。」所以，要打破這種公務員式的思維模式非常困難，因為他們有點孤立，看待問題的方式非常片面，認為這是我的工作，我只能關注這個領域，他們並不真正了解這會產生什麼影響。汽車資源領域發生了很多事情。現在實際上有一個名為“Levant Tubos”的運動。在西班牙語中，它的意思是「發出你的聲音」。因為現在的情況是，加州空氣資源委員會（CARB）正在做決定，他們會聽取公眾意見，但他們實際上並沒有真正採納公眾意見。他們會聽取意見，但不會改變他們的決定。我曾經聽過一位年輕女性說，她是家裡第一個大學畢業生。她來自中央谷地，後來搬到了薩克拉門托地區。她是家裡第一個買房的人。於是她去買割草機。她說，我覺得我得割草了。所以她去了家得寶或其他什麼地方，像是勞氏之類的。店員說：「你最好買電動的。」但電動的比這個貴三倍，我沒錢買電動的，但我有錢買這個。店員告訴她：「反正你遲早都得買電動的。」正是這類強制規定損害了家庭、社區和企業，他們到底有沒有聽取我們的意見？所以，這場運動旨在喚醒人們，讓他們說：「發出你的聲音。你必須被聽到。」因為如果你不發聲，他們就會認為你不在乎，認為你會默默忍受。所以，參與其中很重要。在政策制定者和決策者面前發出聲音很重要，因為他們會改變你的經營方式。他們沒意識到這會是個問題。我常聽到加州人說的一件事是…
我常聽到加州議員說，我曾代表加州商會，也曾代表加州亞太裔商會，現在代表加州西班牙裔商會。我非常關心小企業，因為小企業是加州經濟的驅動力。他們會說，你來這裡跟我談這項法案，說它會對企業造成多麼嚴重的打擊，說人們不會再僱用員工，你還給我講了這麼多悲慘的故事。但我在我的選區裡一個都沒聽到。這讓我們這些在州議會裡努力爭取權益的人非常難過，因為我們無法讓選區裡的人，尤其是那些經營自己企業的人在，告訴他們這項法案會造成怎樣的傷害。所以，對我來說，最重要的是確保基層民眾參與其中。
我相信所有媒體都提出了這個問題。你們也有問題。謝謝。
我想繼續回答約翰關於父母的問題。現在，最高法院這項新命令實際上意味著，像中國這樣的對手將獲得更低的恐怖分子關稅，而與我們的盟友（例如台灣和韓國）相比，他們支付的關稅卻幾乎相同，因為川普目前只被授權將恐怖分子關稅限制在15%。所以，這實際上會提高所有國家的競爭力，但這項裁決實際上對我們的盟友（例如台灣）非常不利。您如何看待這項裁決？
嗯，我聽到了很多關於這項裁決的意見，當然，也包括來自自由派媒體的意見。
我認為他確實想為其他國家創造一個更好的環境。
我認為他確實想讓中國承擔更多責任。但我認為這15%的關稅限制會損害他試圖提升其他國家關稅的努力。所以，我不同意。我認為這是個錯誤。嗯，但我無能為力，對吧？我們無能為力。確實如此。但我認為或許還有其他方法可以解決這個問題。我希望他能找到方法。嗯，因為我認為他確實希望看到中國沒有達到與美國相同的水平。他們從未與美國達到相同的水平。我認為他確實希望看到中國付出更多，但我認為這件事會阻礙這項努力。所以，嗯，看看他未來會說什麼，以及他的顧問未來會分享什麼，將會很有趣。嗯，我認為這是一個很好的問題，我會問我在加州商會的朋友蘇珊娜·斯特林。她出版了一份通訊，叫做CIT，是她出版的國際貿易通訊。嗯，我很確定她會寫到這件事，而且會刊登在那份通訊裡。嗯，我當然不在聯邦政府工作，但這只是我的個人看法。
你認為我們應該從父母那裡撤回撥款嗎？你覺得這會有幫助嗎？
我不知道，我不知道，嗯，我想州長是這麼認為的。嗯，這位州長有很多想法，有些是好的，有些則不然，我今晚就簡單談談這些。這位州長做的一件事就是停止徵稅。他沒有簽署續稅法案。他也透過一些迂迴的方式做了一些其他的事情，但嗯，他在稅收方面做得相當不錯。嗯，我不知道。我們拭目以待。那麼，你對即將推出的億萬富翁稅有什麼看法？
，情況非常糟糕。立法分析辦公室是一個無黨派機構，負責審查預算，並就加州預算中的所有內容發表意見。我們最近向立法分析辦公室提出了這個問題，她說真正棘手的是這些人可以搬走。大多數億萬富翁已經搬走了。事實上，在今晚我將與大家討論的話題中，我掌握了一份離開加州的公司名單，這份名單來自一個名為「加州商業圓桌會議」（California Business Round）的組織。該組織負責追蹤所有離開加州的企業。你知道，他們可能會留下一些人手維持運營，但億萬富翁們會離開，他們會離開我們州，他們完全可以不留在這裡。他們貢獻了加州預算的54%以上。他們帶來了所需的資金，也就是稅收。他們絕對是這部分收入的來源，他們是那1%的富豪。他們貢獻了加州預算的54%。所以，這想法簡直太瘋狂了。因此，無論誰競選下一任州長，這件事都將至關重要。正如我之前提到的，N州長一直堅決反對簽署新稅，他也不支持任何法案，但他11月就卸任了。所以，如果我們選出一位候選人——我不會點名，除非有候選人已經公開支持一項針對億萬富翁的稅收——他正在支持這項稅收。有一位候選人本身就是億萬富翁，他靠石油和天然氣發家致富，現在卻發起了一場反對石油和天然氣的競選活動，這豈不是說，因為你發了財，現在你卻要讓其他人也跟著遭殃？所以，下一任州長是誰至關重要，因為關於公平性以及誰應該繳稅多少、誰繳稅多少的討論，正在損害企業利益。如果沒有那些創造就業機會的人，每個人的機會就會減少，因此億萬富翁稅絕對會造成災難性的後果。我想我之前說過，我們告訴人們，人們會離開。然後當他們真的離開時，他們會說：「我去過一些辦公室，我說，『你們這樣做，人們就會離開。』哦，好吧，這就是在加州做生意的代價。」我覺得這太糟糕了。這種態度太差勁了。我記得我為施瓦辛格州長工作時，我們曾經有專門的「紅隊」。如果我們聽說有公司要離開，我會召集勞工部門、所有電力公司，以及所有從事經濟發展的人員，看看情況如何。如你所知，每個城市、每個縣都有經濟發展委員會和經濟發展主管。我會把這些人召集起來，問他們：「我們能做些什麼？」我們會努力找到留住這些企業的辦法。他們現在沒有應急小組。大家都說得對。因為他們看到我們的經濟穩居世界第四，有時甚至第五，他們認為這才是目前經濟持續成長的關鍵。今晚我會稍微談談這一點。我們州財政收入曾經有180億美元的赤字，現在接近29億美元，情況好多了。我要告訴你們，唯一的原因是科技業和人工智慧，但這同樣可能是個泡沫。如果泡沫破裂，會發生什麼事？我們的州財政收入又會怎樣？在疫情期間，我們的預算一直在成長，而且我們沒有削減任何預算。所以情況變得很棘手，因為人們已經習慣了享受各種福利，而一旦失去這些福利，情況就會變得很糟糕。因此，對億萬富翁徵稅絕對會損害民眾健康，這會讓我們滑向失去「黃金之州」的深淵。我們曾經是黃金之州，我們應該繼續保持下去。有些候選人在談論減稅，而有些稅務人士則在談論增稅。所以我不明白為什麼投票環節還沒結束。這很重要。這些人說的話很重要。
我必須在工作中保持中立，但我是一名商業遊說者。我的客戶大多是企業，除了退伍軍人之外，我也代表他們。商業很重要，加州需要珍惜所有企業，確保它們能持續發展。我希望時間商會也能參與這場對話。你們很強大，你們對經濟有益，你們的公司確實提供了許多美好的事物。說實話，你們的大多數公司都非常專業。這正是我們應該慶祝的。我們應該慶祝你們所取得的成就。所以我希望透過今晚的對話，能真正激發大家參與其中的動力。你們知道，如何才能讓薩克拉門托…
看看其他媒體朋友是否有問題。
那麼
下次
他們只需要做好準備，盡力而為。我的意思是，嗯，我認為成長可能很快就會到來，尤其是在我們不選出一位真正關心舊金山的州長的情況下。舊金山顯然面臨無家可歸的問題。很多財政收入的損失都來自於一些企業的倒閉。這意味著地方政府的資金減少，而地方政府沒有足夠的收入來維持營運。所以，如果他們——我的意思是，我有一些朋友住在舊金山，他們努力——我的意思是，他們可能更偏向右翼或左翼，他們努力為舊金山做出改變，那就太好了。但是，如果你選出的都是對商業漠不關心的人，很難想像他們會改變現狀。但我認為，有時候，那些敢於發聲的人會得到回報，有時人們就是必須敢於發聲。他們必鬚髮聲。他們必須出現在各種場合。與工會不同，企業面臨的真正困難在於，我舉個例子，在薩克拉門托，我可以去參加一個法案聽證會，可能會有200名穿著紫色襯衫的工會成員，我會問他們：「你們來這裡做什麼？」他們會說：「我不知道，我們只是來作證。」他們不知道，但他們是來這裡有報酬的。小型企業可沒有這種條件，可以花一天時間待在薩克拉門托。他們沒有。所以，他們只能依靠像我們這樣在薩克拉門托工作的人，努力為他們發聲，確保他們能聽到我們的聲音。但要讓企業出來作證真的很難。幾年前，紐曼參議員曾經提出一項法案，那是一項非常簡單的法案。這件事已經交由工業關係部處理了。基本上，他們的意思是，如果你和員工發生勞資糾紛，你打電話給工業關係部或發郵件給他們，他們給你的答覆是錯誤的，你不應該被罰款。你仍然需要支付員工薪水（如果需要的話），但你不應該被處以他們每天收取的罰款。
投票，而且不只一次，實際上是民主黨人通過了這項決議。我們當時正在努力尋找一家企業來和我們談談如何獲取相關資訊。
結果證明這是錯的。所以現在所有這些罰款都累積起來了，而且很難找到合適的企業。因此，我們需要企業來薩克拉門托。這對我們來說至關重要。這真的太重要了。但那項法案甚至連聽證會都沒舉行，我當時有好幾家企業到場作證支持，工會也上台發言，基本上都在談論沃爾瑪。我就說，這跟沃爾瑪一點關係都沒有。這完全關乎小企業。你不可能像大公司一樣聘請律師，擁有自己的團隊。他們打電話給DI（可能是指某個機構或組織），因為那裡才是專家，結果這項法案連一票都沒拿到。真的，一票都沒拿到。所以，有時候，即使是這麼簡單的事情也很難辦到。因此，我們必須努力與小企業溝通。我們需要一個聯盟，大家可以一起努力，共同解決一個或兩個問題，才能有所作為。例如，在舊金山，我愛舊金山，每個人都愛舊金山。我已經兩年沒去那裡了，因為去那裡真的很難，我很討厭這樣，因為我熱愛那個城市。我想很多人都跟我一樣，聽很多人說不想去那裡，但我聽到住在那裡的人說，那裡的情況並沒有想像中那麼糟。所以我就想，好吧，這很好，聽到這些話真讓人高興。是啊。我希望你能找到更好的方法來幫助這些企業。
我們並沒有幫助他們發展。他們的收入會減少，利潤也會下降。所以，問題就在於，除非出現真正理解健康商業模式應該造福民的領導者。
好的。還有其他媒體朋友嗎？有。我想關注
如何
所以，這很難應對。是的，確實很難應付。我想每個人都在努力想辦法。我想他們都在努力想辦法。我知道之前有很多討論，說這
會提振企業。我沒聽過。對於我認識的拉丁裔企業來說。我沒聽過。我沒聽過情況是這樣。這可能是長期的。我認為因為現在他們可能沒有這個問題，而且這個問題會在未來出現，但我沒聽說人們現在沒有遇到困難，至少現在沒有。但我認為從長遠來看可能會有，因為我認為庫存問題仍然存在。
你也要接受訪問嗎？
我想問你一個問題
還有，本森小姐，我有一個問題，你是第一個，我的意思是，實際上
如何
我想問一個問題。你知道嗎？
州政府怎麼會花這麼多錢做這件事？
這些都出自文本，對吧？嗯，你之前問我能不能再說說，例如州議會在討論什麼。我想說至少有20項法案涉及這個。實際上，有一項法案規定，如果某人曾經是特工，城市警察部門就不能僱用他。所以，因為我們有很多想來當警察的人，我不認為會有這樣的法案通過。沒有，只是…2月20日，也就是昨天，是提交新法案的截止日期，但這是兩年會期的第二年。每個會期都是兩年，所以是25到26年。嗯，從1月到2月大概提交了18項法案。所以，我有很多東西要處理。嗯，我正在瀏覽這些法案，看看都提交了哪些。有很多關於不允許移民執法局（ICE）特工進入，以及如果ICE特工進入，警長必須採取某些措施的內容。所以這方面有很多事情正在發生。嗯，不好意思，您的問題是什麼？問題是：
所有這些重要的政策如何？這真的很有意思，因為很多拉丁裔企業都是會員。目前有127家西班牙裔企業。
有些規模更大。我可以告訴你，最大的一個組織在貝克斯，擁有超過2000家商學院會員。我們兩年前在那裡舉辦了會議，午餐有25人參加。所以，在這些企業主中，有些非常保守，政治立場偏左，有些則偏右。所以，你會看到各種各樣的人和觀點。但是，因為我們代表的是企業，所以我們始終以商業為中心。我們關注的是正確的政策，而不是適合民主黨或共和黨的政策。如果你是民主黨或共和黨人，對企業來說就不是正確的政策。嗯，當史蒂夫希爾來競選州長的時候，他一直待在那裡。他想認識所有人。嗯，我們還沒……我得說，四年前我們在奧克蘭，今年我們還要再去一次。哈里斯當時就在隔壁。那時候她是副總統。我們午餐有2500人參加，我們說：「天哪，她就在這兒，為什麼她不能過來呢？」然後我們就過去和她的團隊談了談。他們會說：「哦，不。哦，不。不。她不能那樣做。她根本沒來過。加州有81.5萬家拉丁裔企業。
她一直和我們住在貝克斯維爾。所以人們都明白。嗯，所以他們盡量不那麼做，但有時候他們會那樣做，有時候你會聽到一些對話。嗯，但我想說，我們始終以商業為重。什麼對商業有利，我們發現很多政策都傾向中間偏右，因為我們很少看到另一邊的政策。所以，嗯，我想
是的
很好奇你是否
問得好。如果沒有矽谷，我們就麻煩大了。過去農業是我們經濟的最大動力，旅遊業曾經也很重要，但現在旅遊業也在下滑。
人人都是警察。沒錯。好的，謝謝大家，希望我回答了你們的問題。我不太在聯邦層級工作。
我可以提問嗎？當然可以。
很多台灣公司
搬到這裡
是因為台灣需要企業家選擇來這裡投資。是的。那你認為加州，嗯，有很多州，我覺得加州怎麼樣？
我們有很多很棒的面向。
我今晚會談到這一點。我其實有一張投影片，上面列出了我們仍然擁有的所有可以吸引企業來這裡的理由。我以前和選址顧問一起工作，努力弄清楚我們能做些什麼。你會發現，地方政府有時可以提供，州政府有時可以提供，他們也願意考慮你所繳納的稅金。嗯，我得告訴你，我清楚地記得幾年前，阿納海姆的市長暫停了所有許可證費用的發放。你猜怎麼著？橙縣的人們開始擴張，他們獲得了擴建和建設的許可證，這確實起到了作用。當然，這並非永久性的，只是很短的時間，大概八、九個月，之後許可證費用的暫停期就結束了。所以，許可證發放確實是個問題，我今晚會詳細說說。
因為有些項目很難推進，而許可證發放和後續建設正是其中之一。
加州商會正在主導提出這項提案。
所以，我的意思是，我們正在努力改變現狀。這確實是個棘手的問題，但我認為我們有機會。所以即使在這個領域，我們也能降低成本，因為工期延誤可能會造成數百萬美元的損失。例如，在德州，建築許可很快就能審批通過，而在加州，你需要等待SQA（軟體品質保證），然後長時間等待，這很令人沮喪。所以我想說，我想找到一種方法來創造機會。
這正是我們經濟的動力所在。我們需要採取更多措施來促進這種發展。
我來告訴你人工智慧的發展現況。你剛才問到立法者現在擔心什麼。他們擔心資料中心、人工智慧以及人工智慧消耗的電力和能源。他們也提到了布羅克在田納西州的做法，因為他們不想等待政府解決電網問題。所以他們安裝了發電機，用這些發電機為孟菲斯的布羅克公司的所有設備供電。所以現在他們說不能用發電機來開發更多能源，這真是個問題。這影響到其他各種與人工智慧無關的實體和企業，但他們卻試圖限制人工智慧。如果你開始限制人工智慧，你覺得你在做什麼？他們只會說「別來」。所以我們必須想辦法。我們必須解決我認為
我們需要克服的問題，但我們肯定希望減少障礙和阻礙。你是不是真的有一項法案反對這個席位？這是一項提案，需要提交投票表決。你也知道，現在提案要么付費提交，要么收集簽名，而你現在正在收集簽名。我向競選團隊提出的一個問題是：
別碰我們的神聖之地！別碰它！嗯，但我們發現主要的環保組織似乎都能接受。所以，你在開玩笑嗎？我們拭目以待。好的。好的。還有其他關於選票的問題嗎？它在選票上。是的。關於你的問題，我再補充一點。我一直在幫助許多台灣公司遷往美國，我總是推薦像Naja葡萄酒一樣使用莫德斯托葡萄的公司。所以在加州設立辦公室是理想的選擇，尤其對於高科技企業而言。但如果你需要設立生產基地，我會說，勞動成本更低，監管也更寬鬆，你可以選擇亞利桑那州或德州。我們開發了一套系統，由一個人或一個團隊來引導你完成這些流程，他們會手把手地幫助你在德州或你選擇的亞利桑那州建立生產基地。繁文縟節。是的，他們會幫你簡化繁文縟節。除此之外，就行銷和銷售而言，在加州設立總部或其他機構是理想的選擇。立法機構必須了解試圖破壞商業運作的情況，我們指的是加州稅收，但我也會談論其他可能性。
看看我們有哪些機會可以嘗試發出自己的聲音。好的，很好，我們來拍張集體照吧。好的。
那麼，我要換到這張了。
好的。
好的，輪到我了。輪到我了。我在拍照。好的，影片第二張。第二張。
謝謝。好的，再來一張。再來一張。哦，看這邊。非常感謝。
關於所有媒體朋友。好的。
我的照片。
再來一張。
你想加入我們嗎？
這是給我們的嗎？我們可以
是的，我以前是。
And there's also another individual her name is she does all the international trade and um she had offered to come with me lovely place.
So I found it quite interesting that um there's not so I represent the California chambers of commerce and um you have about 813,000
and I realize you don't have as many businesses
probably now that
the Hispanic community but yours is three billion which is amazing. You don't have as many businesses as
is it possibility because of
of what? Oh, yes. Oh, yes. I'm asking. I'm Oh, for you for the for your for your businesses? No, I mean the the business.
Oh, I'm positive it is because I think where you are from what I've understood is you are in the tech innovation. That's your sector. That's where you thrive. So I would not be surprised. I would say yes, but I don't have the answer specific. Yes. Brenda, she like to clip this to
That's wonderful. I thought Peter would be here. Uh anyway, just wait for Rita. Rita come back. She she tried to find some support for this to hold it. Let me go
today. I think two more. One from the uh uh Nancy Nancy from the No, not from General
central news agency. Okay.
Just two more. Yes, two more. I should be here any any minute. So, uh I'm just asking just a talk not really off the table. It's part not part of
Okay. Welcome all the medium friends. Uh this is our keynote speaker granda.
answer all your question and before we really start can we roll call from just call mention yourself from what media so start from yeah you start from hi everyone and my name is your channel TV reporter
Nancy from Central Music.
This is your music.
Okay.
Yeah.
And so I'm the main editor of
Jen, would you just mention Okay, I'm Jen Jen, current president of the Taiwanese commerce. Thank you very much. We have such a honor to have you to be our speaker tonight. Excited. Can't wait to hear your speech. I tell you, it's not going to be 45 minutes long because after dinner, everybody's gonna be like, "Okay, now your turn. Well, yeah. Whatever you want to bring to us. I guess this today's top news is talk about the uh uh the uh Supreme Court. They had a new judgment. Do you have anything to talk talk about it or not? That's more on the federal level and my work is really with more at the state level with the California state legislature working governor and his administration. That doesn't we don't keep up. Okay. Because so much of what happens
is definitely something that California tries to answer. Um so I would say that most people are probably um on the Democratic side of the aisle in in state legislature are probably very happy because they feel like they did something. However, I'm hearing that obviously there was a lot of money that came in from tariffs and obviously had the ability to do that. Um, so there was a reciprocal agreement with your Taiwan on February 12th which I think helpful to especially what you do with import and export. Yes. And so, you know, California is very aware of how important the exporting are. I think in my notes I have like you're the fourth largest of of our important export in California. So, it's very important. So, you pretty much focus on the California's economics. I do mostly California. I've uh you know, I've been blessed to work for three governors. So, having worked for three governors, I've been able to see how California has changed over the years. Um, you know, certainly the last governor I worked for was Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and real care about jobs. Um, you know, we had a lot more programs once upon a time to help businesses grow and thrive in California. Little by little, those have been cut and chopped. I'll talk about a few things that are still around tonight in my speech and there's some opportunities still but we're still missing wonderful things like the R&D tax credit. We don't have that anymore. Um I used to represent enterprise zones and enterprise zones were place where you got tax deductions and deductions hiring credit for hiring very hard to hire what size business you were and now California competes there. Uh it's a tax credit offered through the the governor's office of economic development, but we pretend to be a big company even though a lot of money. Sure. I don't see any small businesses getting any of that money. Um although some some great businesses have received special sciences and and certainly in the in the tech world. Um, so there have been some good stories about California competes, but it's only 180. You mentioned uh three governor. Who are the other two? Except I'm gonna get my age. Yeah. Um, uh, Governor George. Okay. And Governor Pete Wilson and Governor Sure. Of course. Yes. for Governor Wilson, I worked at the Department of Toxic Substances Control at the California Environmental Protection Agency. So, um, yes, there's a lot of in what I understood about the bureaucracy of government is one of the things that I used to do is for every bill or every proposal that comes from the legislature, it's assigned to specific departments within state government. And so they write an analysis of what that bill is going to be about and it requires them to show what the fiscal and economic impact would be. And they would always say unknown or negligible. And I would say how did you like where is your research to show the impact on business and what is that going to be? and go, "Oh, well, it doesn't really matter because this is more important because what you're doing is more important than how it's going to impact business." So, it's been very hard to kind of break through some of that civil service um kind of mindset because they're kind of in a silo and they look at things in a very this is my job and I'm only supposed to look this area and they don't really know what is that impact going to be. So many things that happen in car resources. There's um there's a there's actually a a campaign right now called Levant Tubos. In Spanish that means lift your voice. Um because what's happening is Carb is making decisions and they take public comments but they don't really take public comments. They listen but they don't change what they're going to do. And I heard a young woman once who said she was the first to graduate from college. She was from the central valley. She was moving into the Sacramento area. She was the first to buy a house in her family. And she went to go buy a lawnmower. She's like, I think I have to I have to cut my lawn. And so she went to Home Depot or wherever she went, Lowe's, wherever. And they said, "Well, you should probably buy an electric one." But that's three times more expensive than this other one, and I don't have the money to buy that, but I have the money to buy this. And she was told, "Well, you're going to have to get an electric one anyway." So, it's these kinds of mandates that that harm families and communities and businesses that is are they listening to us? And so, This campaign is about trying to wake up people to say, "Raise your voice. You have to be heard." Because if you're if you're not being heard, they don't think you care and they think you're just going to deal with it. So, it's important to be involved. It's important to um have a presence before policy and decision makers because they're going to change how you do business. They don't hear that it's going to be a problem. One of the things that I hear much from California legislators is when I've represented the California Chamber of Commerce and I've represented in the past the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce as well and now I represent the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. So, I mean, I really care about small business because we're small business is what drive ke drive California and um they would say, well, you're here talking to me about this bill, how bad it's going to be for business and that business and that you know people are not going to hire and you've given me all these sad stories. I haven't heard one in my district. That makes it so hard for us who are fighting in the state legislature when we can't get someone from the district their own businesses to let them know this is going to hurt. So that's why you know for me it's always about trying to ensure that people at grassroots level are getting involved.
I believe all the media had the question. You have questions. Thank you.
I want to continue with John's question related to the parents. Now uh with this new uh Supreme Court order that actually our adversaries like China they're going to get a lot lower terrorists while comparing with our airlines that's like for example Taiwan and South Korea and these countries they're going to pay you know the same pretty much based on right now because Trump only have the authority to uh to keep the terrorists of 15%. So that's going to be the everybody right so you actually increase the competitiveness of while you know it's a dis you know ruling is actually a total disadvantage to our allies such as Taiwan. How do you look at the ruling?
Well, I'm hearing a lot of opinions about it certainly um you know certainly from the liberal society media as well.
Um I I think he did want to create a better atmosphere for others.
I think he did want China to be on the hook for more. Um, but I think this is going to hurt his efforts in trying to raise other nations because of that of that 15%. So, I don't agree with it. I think it's a mistake. Um, but it's nothing I can do, right? Nothing that we can do. It is But I think there's other ways to maybe deal with it. I'm hoping that he finds a way. Um because I think he did want to see that China did not get a level. They've never had a level with the United States. I think he did want to see China pay more, but this I think hurts that effort. So, um it'll be interesting to see what he says in the future and what his advisors share in the future. Um I would think that this is a great question and I'm going to ask my my friend Suzanne Sterling at the California Chamber of Commerce. She puts out a newsletter. It's called CIT. It's called the international trade newsletter that she puts out and um I'm pretty sure she's going to write about it and it's going to be in that newsletter. Um but I don't obviously work at the federal government but that's my opinion.
Do you do you think that we have withdraw from the parents that do you think that's going to help the
I don't know I don't know um I would think that the governor thinks so. Um so there's a lot of things that this governor believes and some of them are good and some of them are not and I'm just going to talk about that a little bit tonight. One of the this governor has done is he has stopped taxes. He has not signed renew taxes. He's done some other things kind of around through the back door, but um he's been pretty good taxes. Um I don't know. We'll see. So, what do you think about the coming billionaire tax?
Um it's very bad. Um the the legislative analyst office is a nonpartisan office that looks at the budget and gives out their own opinions about whatever is in the budget for the state of California. And we recently had that question asked to the legislative analyst office and she said what is really hard is that these people can move. Most of these billionaires have already moved. And actually today, tonight in tonight's discussion that I'll have with you, I have a whole list of companies that have left California and it's through an organization called California. It's part of the California Business Roundt. They actually keep track of all of the businesses that are leaving. And you know, they might leave some skeleton people here, like just enough to keep a presence in California, but billionaires leave and they leave our state and they don't have to be here. And they make up over 54% of our budget for for the state. They bring in the money that's needed, the tax revenue. They absolutely bring that is they're the 1%. They're bringing in 54% of our state budget. So, It's insane to think that. So, whoever is running the next for the governor, this is going to be so important. As I mentioned, Governor N's been very solid about not signing new taxes, and he is not for a bill, but he's not going to be governor come November. So, if we get somebody in that I'm not going to mention names unless there are some that are running for governor that are already endorsing a billion tax. There is a particular candidate who is endorsing a billionaire tax who's billionaire himself and he made his money from oil and gas and now he runs his whole campaign against oil and gas which is like because you made yours you made your money and now you're you're making it for everybody else. So, whoever our next governor is is going to so important because this discussion about fairness and who should who doesn't pay enough and who pays enough, it's it's hurting businesses because if you don't have those people who are helping to create those jobs, there's fewer opportunities for every so that the billionaire's tax would be absolutely detrimental. I think I told you before that we tell people people will leave. And then when they do, they're like, I've gone into some offices where I'm like, you do this, people will leave. Oh, well, that's the cost of doing business in California. I'm like, that is terrible. That is such a bad attitude. I remember working for Governor Schwarzenegger. We used to have red teams. If we heard that a company was leaving, I would bring together um the labor agency. I would bring together all the electricity companies just to see I will bring in um everyone who works in economic development. As you know, there's economic development councils, there's economic development uh directors within every city, within every county. And I would bring those individuals in and I'd say, "What can we do?" And we would try to find a solution to keep those businesses. They don't have red teams now. And everybody's right. Because they see that our economy continues to be fourth sometimes fifth fluctuates econ strongest economy in the world and they think that that's what's going to hold it right now and I'll talk about it a little bit tonight we had an 18 billion deficit on our state revenues it's now close to 2.9 so it's not as bad and I'm going to tell you for one reason it's the tech sector and it's AI that's the only reason but again that could be a bubble bubble and if that bubble talks what happens right then or what what happens to our state revenue and during co we grew and grew and grew our budget and we haven't cut anything we haven't state budget so it gets hard because then people are used to having their programs and then they don't so a billionaire's tax would be absolutely detrimental to health very very slippery slope of not being the golden state. We used to be the golden state and we should continue. There are candidates who are talking about tax cuts and then there's tax people talking about tax increases. So I just don't know how it's not getting to voting. It matters. It matters what these people say they do.
I have to be nonpartisan in the work that I do, but um I am a business lobbyist. Most of my clients are business and with the exception that I do represent veterans as well. But um business is important and California needs to treasure all of our businesses and make sure that they can continue to grow. And I hope that the time chamber is part of that of that conversation. You are strong, you are good for the economy, your companies really provide wonderful things. Um, you know, I can honestly say that most of your companies are very professional. Um, and that's what we need to celebrate. We need to celebrate what you brought. And so I hope that that through my conversation tonight, I hope it actually instills a reason to be involved. You know, how how to make Sacramento and how to
Let's see any other media friend would like to raise a question.
So
next time
Um,
they just need to prepare and just do the best they can. I mean, um, I would say that growth is probably very near future, especially if we don't elect a governor who's going to um I mean, obviously, San Francisco suffers from homelessness. a lot of the revenue that you've lost as far as funding comes from some businesses just closing their doors moving closing their doors. That means less less money for for local government and local government. They don't have the revenue in order to do that. So, it would be great if if they I mean I have some friends that that live in San Francisco and they try they try I mean they're they're probably more on the right on the left side and they they try and make a difference in San Francisco. But again, if you're electing people who don't care about business, it's hard to see how they're not. But I think sometimes the squeaky will get the grease and sometimes people just have to be a squeaky will. They have to talk. They have to be at places. What's really hard for business, unlike labor unions, I'll just just give you a for instance in Sacramento. I can go into a hearing to listen to a bill and there could be 200 labor workers with their purple shirts on and I'll say, "What are you here for?" And they're like, "I don't know. We're just testifying on something." They don't know, but they're getting paid to be there. Small businesses don't have that luxury to be in Sacramento for a day. They have they don't have that luxury. So, they depend on people like us working in in Sacramento to try and take that their voice and make sure they're they're hearing from us. But that's really hard to get businesses out to testify. Had a bill um years ago, Senator Newman was carrying the bill and it was a really simple bill. It was dealt with the Department of Industrial Relations and basically what it said is if you have a labor dispute with an employee and you call the DIIR or you email the DI and they provide you an answer and the answer is wrong, you should not be fined. You still need to pay that employee if that's what you need to do, but you should not be fined with the penalties that they charge you on a daily basis.
A vote, just not one vote and literally it was a Democrat carrying it and we were trying to find a business that could come and talk to us about receiving information
and it was wrong. So therefore now there's all these penalties that have added up and it was hard to find somebody. So we need we need businesses that can like come to Sacramento. It's it's the grassroots for us. It's just so important. But that bill never even got it got a hearing and I had several businesses there testifying in support and the labor union got up there and basically talked about Walmart and I'm like this has nothing to do with Walmart. This has everything to do with a small business. You can't hire a legal attorney and have on staff like big organizorations. They're calling DI because that's supposed to be the place of of expertise and um and it didn't even get one vote. Literally, it didn't get one vote at all. So, even something that simple sometimes is very difficult. So, it's important us just to try and engage with small businesses. There needs to be a coalition of folks that can work on one thing, two things together to try and make a difference. For instance, in San Francisco, I love San Francisco and everybody has loved San Francisco. I haven't been there in two years just because it's been really difficult to go there and I hate that because I love that city and I think there's a lot of people like that heard it from so many people that don't want to go there but I'm hearing people who live there going it's not as bad as you think. So I'm like okay that's good that's good to hear. Yeah. I wish there was a better answer for you just to figure out how to help these
we're not helping them grow. They're going to bring in less money and there's less revenue. So, it's just that until you get leaders that understand healthy business is actually helping people.
Okay. Any other media friends? Yeah. I would like to follow
how
So, it is hard to maneuver. No, it is. It is hard to maneuver. I think everyone is trying to figure it out. I think they're all just trying to figure it out. I know that there was a lot of discussion that there would be
that it would raise businesses. I haven't heard that. for my Latino owned businesses. I haven't heard that. I haven't heard that that's the case. It could be longterm. I think because there's in now that they may not have that issue and it longs down the road, but I'm not hearing that people aren't having a struggle right now, not now. But I think there could be in the long run because again, I think there's inventory.
Are you going to take interview too?
I I do want to ask you one question
and Miss Benson I do have a question you're first one I mean that actually working
how I I want to ask a question. How do the you know
state government use so much money for this?
They are all they're all coming out from the text, right? Um, you asked me earlier if I could go back to that, like what are they talking about in the state legislature. I want to say there's at least 20 bills that deal. Actually, there's a bill that says that police departments in cities cannot hire somebody if they've been agent. So, because we have so many police array of people who want to come and be police, I don't think so. Is there a bill that would pass? No, it's just the um February 20th, which was yesterday was the deadline for introduction of new bills, but this is the second year of a two-year session. Every session is two years, so it was 2526. Um there were probably 18 bills introduced from January to February. So, I've got a lot to go through. Uh but just kind of going through the bills just looking to see what been introduced. There's a lot about um not allowing ICE agents and and having you know the sheriff do certain thing if ICE agents come in. So there's there's a lot happening in in that space. Um and I'm sorry what was your question? The question is how
about all these essential policy? So it's really funny because um a lot of the Latino businesses that are part of the membership. So there's 127 Hispanic.
Some are bigger than others. I would tell you that one of the biggest ones in Bakers have over 2,000 business schools that belong to that. We had our conference there two years ago and for our lunch 25 people. So out of that mix of business owners um some are very deep and to the left and some are and to the right. So you have a real mix of people and and opinions. Um but because we represent business we always keep it about business. It's about the right policy for business. Not the right policy if you're a D or an R. It's not the right policy for business. Um, we had Steve Hill come running for governor. And um, he stayed the whole time. He stayed. He wanted to get to know everybody. Um, we haven't had I will tell you that we were in Oakland four years ago. We're going to be in Oakland again this year. Harris was right next door. At that time, she was the vice president. And we had 2500 people at lunch and we said, "Gosh, she's just right here. Why can't she just come over?" And we went over to talk to her people. They're like, "Oh, no. Oh, no. No. She can't do that. She never came over. All of these Latino businesses making up 815,000 businesses in California.
Spent the whole time in Bakersville with us. So people get it. Um so they try not to be do but sometimes they are sometimes you hear conversation. Um and but I would say we keep it very much about business. What is good for business and we find that much of that lean from middle to the right because that's where policies. We don't see a lot on the other side. So um I think
yes
curious if you
a good question. If it wasn't for the Silicon Valley, we'd be in big trouble. Used to be that agriculture used to be our biggest biggest driver of of our economy and now tourism used to be way up there too and tourism is falling as well.
Everybody is a cop. Exactly. Well, thank you everybody and I hope that I answered your questions. I don't work more at the federal level.
I can ask question. Sure.
Many of Taiwan companies
US moving here
is that Taiwan needs entrepreneurs choose to put expended putting here. Yes. So do you think any of California um states there are a lot of counts and I think how is that California
and we have a very of your great anything.
I'll talk about that tonight. I actually have a slide that I kind of tried to think of all the things that we have still that could offer businesses a reason to come here. I used to work with site locators trying to figure out like what can we do? What you still find is that local governments sometimes can offer the state can offer sometimes are willing to look at what you're pay taxes. Um I will tell you that in Anaheim I remember very clearly was mayor which was years ago um he put a moratorum on permitting fees moratorum on any fee for a permit and guess what happened in Orange County people expanded and they they got permits to expand and build and that's what helped he it wasn't forever it was like a very short time I think it was like eight nine months eight nine months and more time on permit fees. So, uh, but permitting is a real problem and I'll share tonight
because some of the things that are hard to build is permitting and sequel
and the California chamber is leading with the proposition.
So, I mean, you do have things that we're trying to change things. It just is it's a tough client, but I think we you ever have a real good opportunity. So we can bring cost down even in that area because that can be millions and millions of dollars on time delay because what happens is you go to Texas and you build permit boom boom bill here in California you get SQA and you're sitting waiting for a long time and you know that that discourages so I would say that I would like to figure out a way to try and create opportunity.
This is what's helping our economy. We need to do something extra to help bring more of that. So,
I'll tell you what's happening with AI just you asked me about what legislators are worrying about right now. They're worried about data centers and the AI and the power and energy uses that AI uses and they're talking a little bit about what Brock did in Tennessee because they didn't want to wait for them to figure out what to do with the grid. So they put generators, that's what they were running all of their stuff on to do Grock in Memphis. And so now they're saying that you can't use generators in order to develop more energy, which is a problem. It hits all kinds of other other entities and businesses that are don't have anything to do with AI, but um they're trying to limit that. So if you start limiting that then what do you think you're doing? They just say don't come. So we got to figure it out. We have to figure out issues that I think
that we need to get through but we want to create less barriers and less hurdles. That's for sure. Did you actually mean there there's actually a bill there actually against the seat? It's a proposition to be put on the ballot and as you know propositions right now you either pay to have it put on the ballot or you get signatures and you're in the middle of getting all the signatures. Um one of the questions that I asked of the campaign is
don't touch our sacred Don't touch it. Um, but we're finding that the major environmental groups are going to be okay with it. So, you kidding? We'll see. Okay. All right. Any any more question from the ballot? It's on the ballot. Yeah. Just a quick comment to follow your question. I've been helping many companies from Taiwan to relocate to states and I always recommended just like Naja wine they actually use Modesto grapes. So it's ideal to have an office here in California ideal is especially if you're in a high-tech business but if you have any manufacturer needs to be done with I would say cheaper labor but lower cost of labor and regulations you go to either Arizona or Texas and we have developed a system where one person actually team of folks who can guide you through those um process and they literally hold your hands in Texas or Arizona of your choice to build manufacturers. A red tape. Yeah, they get rid of the red tapes and and on top of that, but for the marketing and sales purpose, it's ideal to have a presence here in California as the headquarter office or something. And it's important for the legisle to know trying to break business and we're talking about I mean the California tax but I'll talk about what possibilities there are in
to see what opportunities we can try to create a voice yes okay very good how about let's get a group picture together Okay.
So, I'm going to move to this one.
All right. All
right, my turn. My turn. I'm taking photo. Okay, video second. Two.
Thank you. Okay, one more. One more. Oh, look at this way. Thank you so much.
About all the media friends. Okay.
me picture.
One more piece.
You want to join us?
Is this for us? Can we have
to
Yes, I was former
