Taiwanese legislator Liu Jianguo queried today (5th) regarding the impact of the U.S. presidential election results on Taiwan. Premier Su Tseng-chang responded during the interrogation that he does not have the ability to predict the outcome of the U.S. election, but assured that the Taiwan-U.S. relations will continue to develop stably.
The Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China invited Premier Su Tseng-chang and relevant government officials today to report on the preparation of the “Central Government General Budget for the 114th Year (2025)” and the “5th Special Budget for the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program.”
Legislator Liu Jianguo questioned Su Tseng-chang on whether he could foresee which U.S. presidential candidate would win. Su Tseng-chang responded by saying he lacks the ability to predict the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, but he believes that the relationship between Taiwan and the United States will continue to develop steadily.
Liu Jianguo inquired about the potential impact of the newly elected U.S. president on Taiwan and whether the government is prepared for any related challenges. Su Tseng-chang stated that the relationship between Taiwan and the United States will continue to move in a healthy and orderly direction, but if there are any policy changes, the government will have corresponding strategies in place.
Liu Jianguo pointed out that Taiwan’s exports to the United States have rapidly increased over the past 5 years, from $11.5 billion in 2017 to $21.5 billion in 2023. However, a change in U.S. presidency will likely bring different approaches and ideologies, and the election of either Trump or Harris could have a significant impact on Taiwan.
Su Tseng-chang expressed that the U.S. is a mature democracy, and many policies proposed during elections will still need to align with the overall policy direction of the U.S. He is confident in the future development of Taiwan-U.S. relations.
Liu Jingqing, chairman of the National Development Council, analyzed that if Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is elected, his main policy is to impose a 60% tariff on imports from China and a 10% tariff increase on other countries. “Because Taiwanese companies mainly serve as contract manufacturers for U.S. companies, the impact on us will not be so severe.” Additionally, Trump will enforce technology restrictions to protect U.S. interests, which could benefit Taiwan in accelerating the relocation of Taiwanese businesses and gaining more orders to replace China.
Regarding a potential election of Kamala Harris, Liu Jingqing stated that the existing policies are likely to continue, so the changes would not be significant. Minister of Economic Affairs, Ke Chih-hui, mentioned that they will follow the layout provided by the National Development Council, and the reasoning aligns with that of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. According to the assessment, if Trump is elected, the consequences may not be as dire as speculated by the public.