【Epoch Times, February 8, 2025】Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Guo Zhihui, said on Saturday (February 8) that officials have been sent to Washington to discuss the tariffs that U.S. President Trump may impose.
Taiwan is home to the world’s largest chip manufacturer, TSMC. President Trump announced last month his plans to impose tariffs on foreign chips, causing concern.
President Trump stated on Friday (February 7) that he plans to announce reciprocal tariffs on many economies by Monday or Tuesday next week. This marks a significant escalation in Trump’s efforts to reshape global trade relations.
Minister of Economic Affairs Guo Zhihui stated on Saturday in Taipei that the ministry is prepared for any additional tariffs imposed by the U.S., but he declined to reveal specific details.
When asked about the issue of chip tariffs, Guo Zhihui mentioned that the ministry has dispatched the Deputy Minister and Deputy Director General of the Department of Commerce to Washington, D.C., but he did not provide further details regarding the visit.
According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, the visiting representatives are likely Deputy Minister in charge of trade, Jiang Wenruo, and Deputy Director General of the Department of Investment Services, Chen Peili.
“Taiwan is a great partner of the United States,” Guo Zhihui stated. He acknowledged the differences in perceptions and emphasized that the delegation will provide a more in-depth explanation and communication with American friends regarding the high risks in semiconductor manufacturing. He expressed hope for a positive outcome.
Guo also emphasized that the work done by TSMC is a collaborative effort with the U.S., where the U.S. is responsible for design and distribution, while the highest capital expenditure is undertaken by Taiwan based on its own capabilities.
Taiwan has repeatedly emphasized that the chip industry is a mutually beneficial cooperation with U.S. companies. However, Taiwan maintains a significant trade surplus with the U.S., which saw an 83% increase last year. Driven by the demand for high-tech products such as semiconductors, Taiwan’s exports to the U.S. reached a record of $111.4 billion.
To address the trade imbalance between Taiwan and the U.S., Guo Zhihui suggested that Taiwan could follow Japan’s example and import more energy from the U.S.
Japan has prepared to meet Trump’s demands to reduce the bilateral trade surplus with the U.S. by $56 billion to avoid tariff frictions. After meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on Friday, President Trump mentioned that Japan will soon begin to import a record amount of U.S. liquefied natural gas.
Guo Zhihui commented that Trump’s strong determination on energy issues is evident, and Taiwan hopes to meet U.S. requirements in this regard.