讀後心得

U.S. President Trump announced that equal tariffs would be imposed on global trading partners, with Taiwan at 32% and China at 34%. China immediately announced an additional 34% tariff on all U.S. goods. Akio Yaita, Executive Director of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Institute, pointed out that this will impact Taiwan's economy and called for the search for countermeasures. Despite the challenges faced by traditional industries, Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is temporarily unaffected and should seize the opportunity to import U.S. products, especially energy, and accelerate the transformation of traditional industries into high-tech. He believes that this is the way to enhance Taiwan's competitiveness and find a path in the U.S.-China trade war.

Recently, U.S. President Trump announced the imposition of reciprocal tariffs on global trading partners, with tariffs set at 32% for Taiwan and 34% for China. In response, the Chinese Ministry of Finance decided to impose an additional 34% tariff on all U.S. goods starting on the 10th. Masaru Yaita indicated that this will put pressure on Taiwan's economic development, and therefore Taiwan should seek coping strategies to adapt to the new trade rules.

He pointed out that Taiwan still has advantages in certain areas, particularly in the semiconductor industry, which has not been affected by tariffs, and the potential future impacts are relatively limited since Taiwan does not have strong competitive rivals. Masaru Yaita believes that this tax increase by the U.S. is based on systemic considerations rather than a purely subjective decision. He describes the situation as akin to a university entrance exam where, despite increased difficulty, all candidates face the same pressure, and understanding the characteristics of the exam questions can still lead to good results.

• First, reduce tariffs to promote the import of U.S. goods, such as automobiles. Domestic cars in Taiwan may not be competitive, as most Taiwanese consumers prefer foreign cars, and high tariffs raise prices, effectively harming consumer interests.
• Second, increase imports of goods from the U.S., particularly energy. Taiwan requires a large annual import of oil and natural gas, and rather than relying on other countries, it would be better to procure more from the U.S. This could reduce the trade surplus and give Taiwan greater leverage in negotiations.
• Finally, accelerate the transformation of traditional industries into high-tech industries. Many traditional industries affected by the new tariffs will inevitably be surpassed by China, Southeast Asia, and India over time; hence, the government should increase subsidies to help these industries transition and enhance Taiwan's overall competitiveness.

Masaru Yaita added that when Trump announced the list of tariffs, he regarded Taiwan as a country, which is commendable. He noted that in the past, the U.S. often had to consider China's opinions, but now it is clear that Trump is primarily targeting China. As China's economy suffers and plans for retaliation arise, the U.S.-China trade war escalates once again, and only by firmly supporting the U.S. can Taiwan find a way out.