[4] Tai is a member of the Democratic Party and previously served as the chief trade counsel for the United States House Committee on Ways and Means.

Her parents, who are of Chinese descent from Jiangsu and Henan,[6] were born in China,[7] relocated to Taiwan in 1949 and later immigrated to the United States.

[18] During Tai's tenure with the Committee on Ways and Means, she played a significant role in the House's negotiations with the Trump administration regarding the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA),[10][11] advocating for stronger labor provisions.

[25] In her service as Trade Representative, Tai holds the rank and style of ambassador, and is a member of the Cabinet of the United States.

[26] In June 2021, Tai became the first trade representative to address the AFL–CIO in what was described as an effort to reset the USTR's relations with labor unions.