TAIPEI: Taiwan has despatched officers to Washington to debate attainable United States tariffs by President Donald Trump, and has made preparations ought to they be imposed, Financial system Minister Kuo Jyh-huei mentioned on Saturday (Feb 8).
Tech corporations in Taiwan, residence to the world’s largest contract chipmaker TSMC, face the likelihood Trump will observe by way of on threats to place tariffs on imported chips after he accusing Taiwan throughout final yr’s marketing campaign of getting stolen American semiconductor enterprise.
Trump mentioned on Friday he plans to announce reciprocal tariffs on many economies by Monday or Tuesday, a serious escalation of his offensive to reshape international commerce relationships in methods he considers to be in America’s favour.
Talking to reporters in Taipei, Kuo mentioned the ministry has made preparations for any US tariffs, declining to provide particulars.
Requested about chip tariffs, Kuo mentioned he had dispatched a deputy minister and a deputy part chief to Washington. He didn’t establish them or supply additional particulars.
They are going to “as a lot as attainable give some moderately good explanations to Trump’s folks” about Taiwan’s chip business, he added, with out elaborating.
“Taiwan is america’ finest accomplice.”
Taiwan has repeatedly mentioned its chip sector and US firms have “win-win” cooperation.
However Taiwan runs a big commerce surplus with the US, which surged 83 per cent final yr, with the island’s exports to the US hitting a document US$111.4 billion, pushed by demand for high-tech merchandise resembling semiconductors.
Kuo prompt Taiwan may observe Japan’s instance and import extra US vitality.
“In reference to Japan, he has nice dedication in terms of vitality,” he mentioned, referring to Trump. “We hope we are able to fulfill US calls for in terms of this.”
Japan will quickly start importing a document quantity of US liquefied pure fuel, Trump mentioned on Friday after talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Australia and Qatar are at present Taiwan’s fundamental suppliers of LNG.
