Taiwan Critiques Unfair U.S. Tariffs, Plans Talks

Taiwan has strongly criticized the recent U.S. tariffs, labeling them as unreasonable and attributing their imposition to past American tech restrictions on China during Trump's presidency, which have exacerbated trade imbalances. The Taiwanese government plans to engage in discussions with Washington to seek clarification on the tariffs, which notably exclude semiconductors—a major export from Taiwan. Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te emphasized the island's critical role in the U.S. economy and the global supply chain. The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan also highlighted the importance of the U.S.-Taiwan partnership for economic prosperity and regional stability amidst growing geopolitical tensions. Despite the tariffs, Taiwan's semiconductor industry, led by TSMC, continues to attract significant U.S. investments, underscoring its strategic significance. Taiwan has indicated plans to cut some of its own import tariffs and increase purchases of U.S. energy to help rebalance trade.