TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan is moving swiftly to shield its vital export sectors from the gathering storm of American protectionism. Economic Affairs Minister J.W. Kuo (郭智輝) appeared before the Economic Committee of the Legislative Yuan (Taiwan's parliament) on Thursday (April 10) to outline a comprehensive response strategy focused on preserving the competitive edge of Taiwan's agricultural, fishery, livestock, and strategic industrial sectors as they face increasingly hostile tariff environments.
During the parliamentary session, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) Legislator Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) pressed the minister about the far-reaching consequences of President Trump's punitive 125% tariff on Chinese exports. Her questioning focused particularly on the fate of Taiwanese companies with manufacturing operations in China that could face severe economic pressure under the new trade regime. Chiu called for the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA, 經濟部) to implement continuous monitoring mechanisms to track these developments.
Minister Kuo offered reassurance that his department stands ready with practical assistance for vulnerable businesses. For Taiwanese companies in China whose primary market is the United States, the ministry plans to help facilitate production relocation, according to the minister. He revealed that ministry officials are working under an accelerated 90-day timeline to identify affected companies and develop tailored support packages. This rapid response aims to help firms navigate the complex logistics of production transfers while simultaneously enhancing their competitive positioning in global markets.
The economic minister drew an important distinction for companies serving different markets, noting that firms primarily selling within China would face less pressure to relocate their operations. Nevertheless, these businesses would still benefit from government initiatives to strengthen their market position. Kuo's remarks came just one day after President Trump's Wednesday announcement granting a 90-day reprieve from higher tariffs for countries that refrain from retaliatory measures, though maintaining a baseline 10% duty across most imports.
