Taiwan has promised to buy more American goods after Trump threatened the island nation with a 32 percent tariff.

Taiwan’s president Lai Ching-te said last month that the country would buy more American natural gas and oil, weapons and agricultural goods.

The self-governing island is looking to form closer ties with the US as it faces rising pressure from China, which has threatened to annex Taiwan by force if necessary.

Lai said Taiwan’s promises would help create ‘more balanced bilateral trade’ as well as boost its energy autonomy and resilience.

Lai also told the US congressional delegation he was hosting that Taiwan would support America’s efforts to reindustrialize and lead the world in AI.

Taiwan had a trade deficit of $116.3 billion with the US last year, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

As a result Trump proposed a 32 percent tariff against the island, which is currently on hold except for a 10 percent baseline duty, while negotiations take place.

It comes as Taiwan’s exports jumped 87.4 percent to $15.5 billion in May, as companies fired off shipments before tariffs hit. Both figures are a record, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Monday.

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