Taiwan sends officials to US to discuss possible Trump tariffs
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US President Donald Trump has threatened to put tariffs on imported chips from Taiwan.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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TAIPEI – Taiwan has sent officials to Washington to discuss possible US tariffs by President Donald Trump, and has made preparations should they be imposed, Economic Affairs Minister Kuo Jyh-huei said on Feb 8.
Tech firms in Taiwan, home to the world’s largest contract chipmaker TSMC, face the possibility that Mr Trump will follow through on threats to put tariffs on imported chips after he accused Taiwan during his 2024 campaign of having stolen American semiconductor business.
Mr Trump said on Feb 7 that he plans to announce reciprocal tariffs on many economies by Feb 10 or Feb 11, a major escalation of his offensive to reshape global trade relationships in ways he considers to be in America’s favour.
Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Mr Kuo said the Ministry of Economic Affairs has made preparations for any US tariffs, but declined to give details.
Asked about chip tariffs, Mr Kuo said he has dispatched a deputy minister and a deputy section chief to Washington. He did not identify them or offer further details.
They will, as much as possible, “give some rather good explanations to Trump’s people” about Taiwan’s chip industry, he added, without elaborating. “Taiwan is the United States’ best partner.”
Taiwan has repeatedly said its chip sector and US companies have “win-win” cooperation.
But Taiwan runs a large trade surplus with the US that surged 83 per cent in 2024, with the island’s exports to the US hitting a record US$111.4 billion (S$151 billion), driven by demand for high-tech products such as semiconductors.
Mr Kuo suggested that Taiwan could follow Japan’s example and import more US energy.
“In reference to Japan, he has great determination when it comes to energy,” he said, referring to Mr Trump. “We hope we can satisfy US demands when it comes to this.”
Japan will soon begin importing a record amount of US liquefied natural gas (LNG), Mr Trump said on Feb 7, after talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Australia and Qatar are currently Taiwan’s main suppliers of LNG. REUTERS
