TAIPEI: Taiwan has despatched officers to Washington to debate doable United States tariffs by President Donald Trump, and has made preparations ought to they be imposed, Financial system Minister Kuo Jyh-huei stated on Saturday (Feb 8).
Tech companies in Taiwan, house to the world’s largest contract chipmaker TSMC, face the chance Trump will comply with via 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 stated on Friday he plans to announce reciprocal tariffs on many economies by Monday or Tuesday, a significant 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 stated the ministry has made preparations for any US tariffs, declining to offer particulars.
Requested about chip tariffs, Kuo stated he had dispatched a deputy minister and a deputy part chief to Washington. He didn’t establish them or provide additional particulars.
They may “as a lot as doable give some reasonably good explanations to Trump’s individuals” about Taiwan’s chip trade, he added, with out elaborating.
“Taiwan is america’ greatest companion.”
Taiwan has repeatedly stated its chip sector and US corporations 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 file US$111.4 billion, pushed by demand for high-tech merchandise corresponding to semiconductors.
Kuo instructed Taiwan might comply with Japan’s instance and import extra US power.
“In reference to Japan, he has nice willpower relating to power,” he stated, referring to Trump. “We hope we are able to fulfill US calls for relating to this.”
Japan will quickly start importing a file quantity of US liquefied pure gasoline, Trump stated on Friday after talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Australia and Qatar are at present Taiwan’s principal suppliers of LNG.
