Taiwan has met with Washington officials to talk about potential US tariffs by President Donald Trump, according to Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei on Saturday ( Feb 8 ).
Tech firms in Taiwan, home to the largest contract chip manufacturer in the world, are at risk that Trump did follow through on his threat to impose tariffs on imported chips after he claimed Taiwan had stolen American semiconductor firm during the campaign last year.
Trump announced on Friday that he would start imposing mutual tariffs on numerous nations by Monday or Tuesday, a significant step in his campaign to reshape international trade relationships in ways he believes are in the country’s best interests.
Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Kuo said the government has made arrangements for any US taxes, declining to give specifics.
Kuo claimed to have sent a deputy minister and deputy area commander to Washington when asked about device tariffs. He didn’t mention them or provide more information.
They did” as much as possible give some more great explanations to Trump’s people” about Taiwan’s chip business, he added, without elaborating.
” Taiwan is the United States ‘ best mate”.
Taiwan has frequently said its chip business and US companies have “win-win” assistance.
But Taiwan runs a big trade deficit with the US, which surged 83 per cent last time, with the region’s export to the US hitting a record US$ 111.4 billion, driven by demand for high-tech items such as electronics.
Kuo suggested that Taiwan was acquiesce to Japan’s illustration and transfer more US energy.
” In reference to Japan, he has great perseverance when it comes to power”, he said, referring to Trump. We hope to be able to fulfill US demands in this regard.
After speaking with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday, Trump announced that Japan will immediately start importing a record-breaking quantity of liquefied natural oil.
Taiwan’s main LNG suppliers are now Qatar and Australia.