TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's diplomatic corps has swiftly mobilized following U.S. President Trump's (川普) announcement of a temporary reprieve from his threatened "reciprocal tariffs" regime. The American leader revealed Thursday (April 10) a 90-day suspension of the more punitive measures in favor of a milder 10% baseline tariff on imports. Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) signaled in a media interview that Taipei stands prepared to engage Washington in substantive trade discussions while deepening industrial supply chain integration between the two economies.
The foreign minister underscored Taiwan's eagerness to pursue formal bilateral tariff discussions with American counterparts, viewing the current situation as an opportunity to deepen already substantial economic ties. Lin portrayed the potential collaboration as mutually beneficial, noting America's wealth of financial resources and technological innovation capabilities. He strategically positioned Taiwan's manufacturing prowess as an essential component in ongoing efforts to restructure global supply chains — a priority shared by both Taipei and Washington amid shifting geopolitical realities.
During the interview, Lin detailed a comprehensive four-pronged approach to U.S.-Taiwan economic relations: increased direct investment, expanded procurement of American goods, ambitious "zero tariffs" as a negotiating starting point, and systematic elimination of non-tariff trade barriers. The minister emphasized Taiwan's substantial economic commitment to the United States, citing cumulative investments exceeding $100 billion. He specifically referenced semiconductor giant TSMC (台積電, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) and silicon wafer producer GlobalWafers (環球晶) as prominent examples of Taiwanese companies establishing advanced manufacturing facilities on American soil, while noting Taiwan's strategic purchases of energy resources and agricultural commodities from Alaska.
The foreign minister revealed that initial diplomatic overtures regarding tariff negotiations had received encouraging feedback from Washington. These discussions will advance through established bilateral channels rather than requiring new diplomatic frameworks. Lin framed Taiwan's strategy as addressing American concerns about trade imbalances through increased investment and procurement while simultaneously strengthening Taiwan's economic resilience and national security. The coordinated diplomatic response became evident when President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) published a comprehensive policy statement in Bloomberg just one day earlier, articulating Taiwan's vision for navigating the Trump administration's trade policies while enhancing economic cooperation with the United States.
