TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Wistron Corporation (緯創) Chairman Simon Lin (林憲銘) urged Taiwanese companies Wednesday (Aug. 27) to transform U.S. tariff pressures into opportunities for global expansion during a Taiwan Women on Boards Association (WOB, 台灣女董事協會) forum. Lin emphasized that strategic international resource exploration could ultimately benefit Taiwan's technology sector. He positioned the current trade environment as a catalyst for Taiwanese firms to broaden their global reach and diversify operations.
Lin expressed confidence in Taiwanese firms' adaptability, noting that U.S. Section 232 investigations focused on products rather than countries would not uniquely disadvantage Taiwan. He highlighted artificial intelligence's massive power demands and Taiwan's constrained resources, encouraging businesses to leverage internationally available resources. The technology executive advised companies to embrace global expansion without hesitation, viewing resource limitations as motivation for international diversification.
Lin revealed during his address that NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang's (黃仁勳) recent Taiwan visit centered primarily on discussions with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSMC, 台積電), the world's largest contract chipmaker, with only a brief side meeting involving Wistron. He expressed concerns about potential European Union preferential treatment in U.S. semiconductor Section 232 investigations. The investigation results remain pending, creating uncertainty for Taiwan's semiconductor industry.
Lin highlighted ongoing adjustments in President Donald Trump's decision-making processes and tax policies, reinforcing his confidence in Taiwanese enterprises' rapid response capabilities. He urged businesses to expand globally, citing Taiwan's constraints including limited electricity, water, land resources, and an aging population. Lin concluded by emphasizing government leadership's critical role in tariff negotiations, with private companies serving as strategic advisors to policymakers. ◼
