Taiwan condemns US tariffs as ‘highly unreasonable’
Taiwan to Start “Serious Negotiations” with US over Trump’s Tariffs
Taipei has expressed its strong discontent with US President Donald Trump’s recent tariffs, deeming them as “highly unreasonable.” In response to Trump’s sweeping new tariffs which included a hefty 32 percent tax on Taiwanese imports, the government of Taiwan has announced plans to commence “serious negotiations” with Washington.
Despite Taiwan’s efforts to prevent the threatened levies by promising increased investment in the United States, more purchases of US energy, and higher defense spending, Trump’s decision to impose tariffs has caused frustration in Taipei. The cabinet spokeswoman, Michelle Lee, described the tariffs as “unfair” and stated that the government will push for negotiations to address the issue.
Taiwan’s trade surplus with the United States is significant, ranking as the seventh highest of any country and reaching US$73.9 billion in 2024. A large portion of Taiwan’s exports to the US consists of information and communications technology products, particularly semiconductor chips.
The exclusion of semiconductor chips from the recent tariffs was a relief for Taiwan, but analysts warn that tariffs on other components could still impact the critical chip industry. Taiwan has prepared countermeasures to support local industries affected by potential US tariffs, with the Minister of Economic Affairs, Kuo Jyh-huei, confirming the readiness to respond.
Taiwan’s efforts to boost its economic ties with the United States, including investments, energy purchases, and defense spending, have been emphasized as part of a strategy to counteract the impact of Trump’s tariffs. Trump has previously accused Taiwan of unfair practices in the chip industry and threatened further tariffs on semiconductor imports.
Overall, Taiwan hopes to engage in constructive negotiations with the US to address the trade imbalance and ensure fair treatment in light of the recent tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
