TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan (MOEA, 經濟部) announced plans to dispatch officials to Washington, D.C. on Monday (Feb. 10) to address concerns over the potential inclusion of Taiwan in the U.S. tariff list.
Media reported on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump's looming announcement of a 100% tariff on semiconductor chips on Feb. 18 has prompted the MOEA to send officials to Washington, D.C., to gather information.
The delegation will be led by Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Cynthia Kiang (江文若), and Chen Pei-li (陳佩利), the deputy director-general of the Industrial Development Administration (產發署). The delegation plans to leave on Tuesday to engage with Trump's team and gather the latest information. Officials emphasize ongoing frequent interactions between Taiwan and the U.S., with routine communication in place.
Kiang, who has participated in the U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue (EPPD, 經濟繁榮夥伴對話) and Technology Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework (TTIC, 科技貿易暨投資合作架構) meetings, aims to meet with U.S. officials. Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Cheng Li-chun (鄭麗君) has formed a task force to explore new models for U.S.-Taiwan economic and technological exchanges, holding several meetings to strategize.
TSMC (台積電) continues its substantial investment in the U.S., with a third fab in Arizona, and plans for 2-nanometer technology by 2028. Despite these efforts, sources say the complexity of implementing such tariffs requires a legal basis, leaving Taiwan's inclusion uncertain.
Taiwan's countermeasures include establishing a trade service center, organizing delegations to the U.S., and expanding purchases of Alaskan natural gas by the Chinese Petroleum Corp., Taiwan (台灣中油). As the situation evolves, Taiwan remains committed to maintaining constructive dialogue and exploring effective responses to potential trade challenges.