KEELUNG (TVBS News) — The mayor of Keelung, a major port city in northern Taiwan, issued a stark warning on Tuesday (April 8) that the sweeping tariffs imposed by the Trump administration could soon force companies throughout regional supply chains to implement unpaid leave programs for workers, as he urged Taiwan's central government to provide immediate financial assistance. The grim assessment came during a high-stakes meeting with business executives at Dawulun Industrial Park (大武崙工業園區) and Liudu Technology Park (六堵科技園區), where industry leaders voiced mounting concerns about potentially significant production disruptions and the growing likelihood of workforce reductions. Engel Wu (吳宗寶), chairman of Protech Systems (南京資訊股份有限公司), emphasized during the discussions that the tariff's damaging ripple effects would extend well beyond direct U.S. trade, potentially undermining Taiwan's global export position across multiple markets.
Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) underscored his administration's unwavering commitment to providing comprehensive support for businesses caught in the economic crossfire, expressing particular concern about the tariffs' potential to drastically reduce production capacity and trigger widespread employment instability throughout the region. The mayor revealed plans for a critical summit scheduled for Wednesday with a coalition of influential northern Taiwan leaders, including Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜), and Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng (張善政). During the industrial park meeting, Hsieh offered reassurances that the Keelung city government would implement targeted guidance programs and assistance measures for companies devastated by the tariff regime, while specifically pledging to address emerging unpaid leave situations if corporations begin downsizing their workforce.
The mayor vowed to maintain ongoing dialogues with industry leaders to develop a more nuanced understanding of their evolving challenges and specific assistance requirements as the tariff situation unfolds. Hsieh articulated his intention to forge a coordinated response through strategic collaboration with both central government ministries and neighboring local administrations to develop substantive, concrete relief measures for affected businesses. According to city officials, Legislator Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) has already begun conveying these urgent economic concerns to central authorities in Taipei, with Mayor Hsieh framing the crisis as a vital opportunity for meaningful bipartisan cooperation that transcends political divisions to help vulnerable Taiwanese businesses navigate this period of unprecedented trade turbulence.