讀後心得

The United States will impose a 34% tariff on China starting from the 9th, putting Taiwanese businesses in a greater challenge. Li Zhenghong analyzed that Taiwanese businesses in the consumer electronics and furniture industries will be most affected, while Zhai Suoling from the toy trade pointed out that this tariff makes price reductions difficult, which has a significant impact. As Sino-US trade relations continue to grow tense, Taiwanese businesses need to seek market diversification to reduce dependence on the United States. Although facing difficulties, some Taiwanese businesses have already begun to layout plans for other markets, and there remains uncertainty in future developments.

The United States announced a 34% countervailing duty on China starting from the 9th, which poses greater challenges for Taiwanese businesses. The president of the Taiwanese Business Association analyzed that Taiwanese businesses engaged in consumer electronics and furniture have a higher proportion of exports to the United States, making them more susceptible to impact. Meanwhile, those in the toy export industry reported that past tariff increases could be mitigated by subsidizing customers, but the new 34% tax rate has nearly eliminated the room for price reductions, significantly affecting companies.

In February and March, the United States imposed a 10% tariff on China, and on April 2, announced that a 34% countervailing duty would be imposed starting on the 9th. Within just two months, Chinese exporters need to quickly respond to a cumulative tariff of 54%, increasing the challenges faced by Taiwanese businesses.

The president of the National Association of Taiwanese Compatriots Investment Enterprises analyzed that the current situation is more difficult for Taiwanese businesses than ever before. Previously, the US-China trade war mainly targeted products from mainland China, but now the US has also imposed taxes on countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines, leaving Taiwanese businesses confused about future market developments and potential order losses. Li Zhenghong pointed out that Taiwanese businesses that produce consumer electronics, textiles, shoes, and furniture rely heavily on exports to the US and are therefore easily affected by tariffs. Although some Taiwanese businesses began to explore other markets at the beginning of the trade war, this may actually lessen the impact of the current tariffs.

Regarding the mainland Chinese market, despite the current soft consumption, Taiwanese businesses continue to undertake transformation and upgrade and market layout. Those engaged in toy exports stated that 95% of their products are for export, with the US market accounting for 60% to 70% of export orders, reaching hundreds of millions of dollars. In the past, toys from China enjoyed zero tariffs in the US, but this time tariffs have been imposed on all products from China, limiting the companies' ability to reduce prices.

Currently, businesses are still observing how to cope with the impact of the 34% tariff, and considering the uncertainty of the policy, have chosen to take a wait-and-see approach. Although he believes that this is the most challenging time for the toy export industry, he does not think it is the most difficult moment, holding a neutral view on future industry development, but is not optimistic.