TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) on Wednesday (Dec. 25) expressed concerns over recent legislative changes that could disrupt foreign tech collaborations. He emphasized that altering long-term agreements with companies like NVIDIA and AMD might shock these partners and hinder investment timelines, potentially affecting Taiwan's credibility.
The Legislative Yuan amended parts of the "Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures" (財劃法) on Dec. 20, leading to concerns of budget allocation within the government. Kuo noted that the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA, 經濟部) estimates a nearly NT$30 billion reduction in next year's budget, which could harm industry development, especially projects with international giants such as Micron, NVIDIA, and AMD.
Before the Economics Committee meeting at the Legislative Yuan, Kuo told the media that the recent legislative amendments have left the ministry without a complete impact assessment. During a visit to European and EU countries, Kuo received feedback that Taiwan is seen as a highly trustworthy nation. He warned that sudden changes without consultation might lead to misunderstandings.
Responding to media inquiries about the amendments' impact on Taiwan Power Company (Taipower, 台電), Kuo urged the Legislative Yuan to fully support compensating Taipower for past electricity subsidies. Regarding potential electricity price changes, Kuo clarified that a review committee decides these rates. He assured that the MOEA will work with Taipower to minimize operational impact variables.
