TAIPEI, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Taiwan only expects a small
impact from any tariffs imposed by the incoming government of
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on semiconductor exports given
their technological superiority, Economy Minister Kuo Jyh-huei
said on Friday.
Home to the world's largest contract chipmaker, Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. ( TSM ) , the
island is a key link in the global technology supply chain for
companies such as Apple ( AAPL ) and Nvidia ( NVDA ).
But Taiwanese policymakers have warned new U.S. tariffs
against all countries from the Trump administration could curb
economic growth this year for the export-dependent economy.
Trump has pledged a blanket tariff of 10% on global imports
into the United States and a far higher 60% tariff on Chinese
goods. In late November, he specifically pledged a 25% tariff on
imports from Canada and Mexico when he takes office on Jan. 20.
Asked at a news conference about the impact on Taiwan's
export orders of Trump's tariffs, Kuo said it would not much
affect the chip sector.
"For our semiconductors and advanced processes, there is an
advantage of technological leadership and that cannot be
replaced, and so the impact will be small," he added.
Taiwan will also help companies relocate supply chains to
the United States as needed, away from where there might be high
import tariffs, Kuo said.
"Now we see that we should be able to develop the aerospace
supply chain industry in the United States, and do some joining
up with the U.S. aerospace companies, so that some of Taiwan's
aerospace research and development centres can be moved to
there."
Taiwan will also set up an office in Japan in the first half
of this year to help Taiwanese businesses invest there, and
cooperate with the country on AI and drones, he added.