讀後心得

In response to U.S. President Trump's imposition of a 32% equivalent tariff on Taiwan, the Ministry of Finance plans to lower the automobile tariff to 17.5% and gradually reduce tariffs on health foods. To address this change, the Ministry will implement three main strategies, including adjusting tax rates on high-tax-rate products, strengthening enforcement against laundering of origin practices, and reviewing companies' import pricing strategies to mitigate the impact of tariffs. Furthermore, the National Security Fund will consider convening a meeting in advance to stabilize the stock market amid fluctuations. Although reports suggest that Trump's measures may encourage Taiwanese businesses to invest in the U.S., experts believe that the high costs and complex tax environment in the U.S. may make such investments less appealing, and Taiwanese businesses should proceed with caution in their decision-making.

In response to the 32% equivalent tariffs imposed by the U.S. President on Taiwan, the Ministry of Finance plans to lower the tariff on automobiles to 17.5% and will also gradually reduce the tax rate on health foods to 30%. It is expected that the Ministry of Finance will adopt three main strategies to respond: first, to review the tax rates of products with excessively high tariffs, including the reduction of tariffs on automobiles and health foods; second, to strengthen customs enforcement against 'origin laundering' to prevent Chinese products from entering the U.S. through Taiwan and becoming targets for retaliation. Additionally, due to the equivalent tariffs on Taiwan exceeding market expectations, foreign investment may take action, leading to significant volatility in the Taiwan stock market, and the National Security Fund is expected to convene a meeting to authorize intervention to stabilize the market amid continuous declines.

Regarding recommendations to mitigate the impact of reduced tariffs, experts suggest three strategies: first, to review the pricing strategies for goods exported to the U.S., utilizing the first sale principle to lower the taxable base for imported goods, thereby reducing tariff costs; second, to conduct origin planning, obtaining relevant origin rulings to support product identity and reduce extra tax burdens due to differing origins; finally, to restructure supply chains, such as by setting up factories in foreign trade zones in the U.S., or leveraging trade agreements to secure tariff concessions.

As for whether equivalent tariffs will drive Taiwanese businesses to invest heavily in the U.S., experts believe it is unlikely. The reasons are twofold: first, investments in the U.S. require careful calculation, particularly since the profits of Taiwan’s traditional industries and electronics sector are relatively low, and the U.S. tax system is complex with high income taxes, making transferring investments may not be cost-effective; second, the continuity of tariff policies needs to be observed, as this not only affects Taiwanese businesses but also impacts U.S. customers and consumers. The increased costs may eventually provoke a market backlash, and Trump may reconsider the internal situation in the U.S. and adjust tariff policies, so Taiwanese businesses still need to cautiously observe before making decisions.

• Tariff reduction: automobiles 17.5%, health foods 30%
• Response strategies: review tax rates, strengthen enforcement against origin laundering
• Market impact: foreign investment may change behavior, Taiwan stocks may experience volatility
• Challenges of investing in the U.S.: high costs and complex tax systems
• Uncertainty of future tariff policies