TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS, 主計總處) assured the public on Tuesday (April 8) that the nation faces no immediate threat of inflationary pressures, even as concerns mount over the potential repercussions of newly imposed U.S. reciprocal tariffs. This announcement seeks to calm growing fears about how these tariffs might affect consumer prices.
The latest figures from March reveal that Taiwan's Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 2.29% compared to the previous year. In the wake of these figures, U.S. President Donald Trump has enacted a 32% reciprocal tariff on Taiwanese goods, a move that surpasses market forecasts. Tsao Chih-hung (曹志弘), a specialist from DGBAS, noted that although these tariffs might elevate the cost of imported consumer goods, various balancing factors could mitigate this pressure.
Tsao highlighted that the tariffs might dampen both global and U.S. economic activities, potentially softening worldwide demand and driving down raw material prices. He reassured that the likelihood of significant price increases in Taiwan remains minimal over the short term.
Tsao also highlighted the impact of oil prices on various industries, noting that international oil prices have fallen below US$70 per barrel following Trump's tariff announcement. Taiwan's heavy reliance on imported raw materials means that decreasing their prices could alleviate pressure on domestic prices. Even if price fluctuations increase, the government plans to implement measures to address the situation. When asked about the risk of stagflation, Tsao dismissed concerns, stating that Taiwan does not face su
