Taiwan Plans Zero Tariff Talks with US, Boosts Investments

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has proposed a 'zero tariffs' framework as the basis for trade negotiations with the United States, aiming to eliminate trade barriers instead of imposing reciprocal tariffs. This initiative comes in response to recent import tariffs announced by President Trump, which impose a 32% duty on Taiwanese goods, excluding semiconductors. Lai emphasized Taiwan's commitment to increasing investment in the U.S., particularly in sectors such as electronics and petrochemicals, while assuring that Taiwan will not retaliate with tariffs. He referenced the U.S.-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement as a model for negotiations and expressed optimism about mitigating the economic impact of U.S. tariffs. Additionally, Taiwan's TSMC has committed to a $100 billion investment in the U.S., signaling a deepening of industrial cooperation. The Taiwanese government is also exploring substantial purchases of U.S. products across various sectors to further strengthen ties.