Tariff Showdown Doesn’t Shake Confidence

Published in Taiwan Times
(Taiwan) on 8 July 2025
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Jennifer Sampson. Edited by Patricia Simoni.
On the eve of the Taiwan-U.S. tariff negotiations, predictions about the results range from worried to optimistic. The facets of domestic industries and linkages that will be affected are vast, and people are watching closely, expecting them and afraid to be hurt. Still, regardless of the outcome of the tariffs, Taiwan’s technological and strategic position will be unaffected. The U.S. can be great again, and Taiwan’s assuredness of being “small but great” will be hard to shake.

Even as U.S. President Donald Trump has successively announced tariff rates on various countries, Taiwan is not on the initial list. Those with a positive outlook believe that the tariff negotiations between the U.S. and Taiwan are moving in a positive direction. Those who are more negative point to the words of the U.S. treasury secretary, that “tariff negotiations between Taiwan and the U.S. are not as smooth as expected.”* Many private finance and foreign affairs experts, as well as former finance officials, suggest that if the tariff negotiations are stuck, they are probably stuck on issues related to agriculture and automobiles.

In a late-night video call to a team of trade negotiators in the U.S. on July 7, President Lai Ching-te encouraged them to focus on “safeguarding the health and food security of the people as their core mission,” making this the substance of negotiations when fighting for reasonable tariffs. Although domestic views in Taiwan on the current tariff negotiations are divided and at a deadlock, they should aim to focus on stabilizing the financial and economic order, industry and public sentiment.

If Taiwan has any control in these negotiations, it must fight wholeheartedly. If it has no control, it still must go all out. The Taiwan-U.S. relationship is sensitive and delicate, and Trump’s attitude toward Taiwan is unpredictable. Even though Taiwan has many valuable aspects that may make the U.S. give tariff concessions, before Trump reveals his cards, no one can confidently say, “Taiwan is on stable ground!”

Having a solid foundation is critical. The tariff rates between Taiwan and the U.S. are about to be revealed. Regardless of whether they are in line with Taiwan’s wishes, the people have confirmed that Taiwan’s strength is in its unique confidence to meet many challenges head on.

*Editor’s note: Although accurately translated, this quoted passage could not be independently verified.


(無事不談)關稅掀牌不掀底氣

台美關稅談判即將掀牌前夕,存在各種憂慮或看好的迥異預測,國內各產業以及連動影響層面太廣,期待又怕受傷害的密切觀望中。唯不管關稅稅率最終結果如何,台灣難以取代的科技和戰略地位不受影響,美國可以再次偉大,台灣「小而大」的底氣,均難以撼動。

美國總統川普陸續公佈各國關稅稅率,台灣並未在首波攤牌的名單中。持正向看法者認為,台美談判朝好的方向走;憂心忡忡者提及,因美國財長談話直指「台美談判未如預期順利」。還有許多民間財經、涉外專家以及前財經官員,分別提出若台美談判卡關,應該是在農業和汽車這幾個議題。

而從總統賴清德七日深夜與在美國的經貿談判團隊視訊時,期勉團隊「維護國民健康及糧食安全為核心任務」來為國家爭取合理關稅的談話內容,應與台灣內部目前對關稅談判看法分歧又膠著,旨在安定財經秩序和產業、民心有關。

兩國談判,能操之在我,必然全力爭奪到手;無法操之在我,則全力以赴。尤其台美關係敏感且微妙,川普對台灣態度又充滿各種不確定性,使得台灣盡管具備讓美國可以放手在關稅優惠的各種價值,川普未掀牌前,目前卻無法讓任何一位敢打包票說「台灣穩了!」。

「樹頭徛予在,毋驚樹尾做風颱!」台美關稅稅率就要掀牌了,無論是否盡如台灣國意,國人確認台灣實力擁有獨一無二的底氣,就是迎戰各項挑戰的國力。
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