TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's high-tech industry braces for potential impacts as the U.S. considers raising tariffs on Taiwanese chips. The U.S. measures could prompt Taiwanese semiconductor firms to establish factories in the U.S., a move with long-term implications yet to be fully understood, a research analyst said on Tuesday (Feb. 4).
Chang Juin-jen(張俊仁), director of the Institute of Economics (經濟所) at the Academia Sinica (中研院), highlighted Taiwan's robust market presence, with a nearly 90% share in the high-end chip sector. He emphasized that the chips are typically exported as part of other products, which might limit the direct impact on Taiwan's semiconductor industry.
Chang, however, expressed concern over Taiwanese tech companies operating in Mexico, as future U.S. tariffs on Mexican imports could indirectly affect Taiwan. He further suggested that the U.S.'s tariff strategy seems aimed at encouraging Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturers to set up operations in the U.S. Although this could lead to significant changes, he stressed the importance of ongoing observation to assess future impacts.
Meanwhile, the trade tensions between the U.S. and China escalated as a 10% tariff on Chinese imports took effect the same day, with China planning retaliatory tariffs next Monday. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump postponed a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian goods for 30 days to secure concessions on border and crime enforcement.
