The American Institute in Taiwan penned a strongly worded letter opposing government plans to institute new rules which would affect Uber services in Taiwan.
The News Lens
Date: 2019/04/27
By: Daphne K. Lee
Credit: Reuters / TPG
The controversial “Uber Clause” has not only sparked multiple driver protests, including a rally outside the Presidential Palace on Sunday, but has also attracted heavy criticism from the American Institute of Taiwan (AIT), the country’s de facto United States representative office.
Calling for stricter regulations on the operations of ride-hailing companies in Taiwan, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) had proposed a draft amendment to Article 103-1 of the Automobile Transportation Management Regulations in February 2019.
The potential amendment requires Uber to charge its customers for a minimum of a one-hour rental regardless of distance. For every completed trip, the driver would have to return his or her vehicle to the rental shop before taking the next customer. Uber Taiwan says these measures would significantly increase fares and wait times, as well as air pollutant emissions.
Credit: Daphne K. LeeUber drivers parked on Taipei’s Ketagalan Boulevard during a rally against Article 103-1 held on April 21, 2019.
In response to the “Uber Clause,” the AIT submitted a letter of comments warning against the proposed regulations that would make Taiwan “an unfriendly environment for innovators and a risky place for foreign companies to invest.” [FULL STORY]
