Taiwan is preparing for potential US tariffs on its semiconductors, amid a shift in relations with the new administration under President Donald Trump. Taiwanese officials have been trying to assure the administration of their commitment to cooperation and have traveled to Washington to meet with lawmakers and businesspeople.
The island’s dependence on US support is high, with nearly all major weapons coming from the US and exports worth $74 billion last year. However, some Taiwanese experts are concerned about the new administration’s combative approach and lack of focus on shared democratic ideals.
Taiwanese officials have been working to build bridges into Trump’s inner circle, but their efforts have yielded little so far. The island hopes to buy more liquefied natural gas from Alaska and has made other attempts to win over support from key lawmakers like Marco Rubio and Michael Waltz.
The Pentagon’s under secretary of defense for policy, Elbridge Colby, has warned that Taiwan should not assume it is indispensable to the US, and some officials have suggested that Taiwan should increase its military spending. However, many Taiwanese experts privately question the 5% target, and there are also frustrations with the US over the backlog of undelivered orders of arms and military equipment.
As Trump’s administration navigates relations with Taiwan, the island is taking steps to prepare for potential tariffs and to build stronger ties with the US.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/world/asia/taiwan-tariffs-trump.html