TAICHUNG (TVBS News) — In a late-night emergency response to looming economic challenges, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) gathered leaders from seven central Taiwan counties and cities for a virtual summit on Monday (April 7) evening. The high-level regional meeting, which began at 9 p.m., culminated in a unified call for Taiwan's legislature to expedite approval of an NT$88 billion (approximately US$2.67 billion) aid package designed to buffer the region's economy from U.S. reciprocal tariffs.
U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement last Wednesday of a substantial 32% tariff on Taiwanese exports has already delivered a significant blow to Taichung's vital manufacturing sector, according to Mayor Lu's sobering assessment during the meeting. Regional solidarity emerged as Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke (楊文科) and acting Hsinchu City Mayor Chiu Chen-yuan (邱臣遠) — both representing Taiwan's crucial semiconductor hub — voiced strong support for the central government's proposed assistance measures. Meanwhile, Changhua County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei (王惠美) urged the Executive Yuan (Taiwan's cabinet) to accelerate its intelligence-gathering efforts regarding the specifics of the U.S. tariff implementation to enable more strategic and informed policy decisions.
The economic ripple effects of the tariffs prompted Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan (張麗善) to voice profound concerns regarding the specter of business closures and rising unemployment throughout her predominantly industrial region, as she advocated for robust labor protection measures to safeguard workers' livelihoods. Chiayi City Mayor Huang Min-hui (黃敏惠) focused on financial lifelines, calling for state-owned banks to maintain critical credit access while offering distressed businesses much-needed interest concessions or tax relief during this period of economic uncertainty. Representing Taiwan's agricultural heartland, Nantou County Magistrate Hsu Shu-hua (許淑華) emphasized the central government's responsibility to shield vulnerable sectors—particularly the agricultural industry—during upcoming tariff negotiations with Washington.
In their joint statement, the eight regional leaders presented a forward-looking strategy, recommending that the government conducts a comprehensive reassessment of tariff barriers in alternative export markets while simultaneously expanding promotional support for Taiwanese businesses seeking to diversify beyond U.S. markets. This coordinated approach reflects the leaders' shared recognition that Taiwan's economic resilience may depend on rapidly developing new trade relationships beyond its traditional American partnerships.
