Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung stated Tuesday that the island is ready to engage in tariff negotiations with the United States at any time, aiming to ease trade tensions that recently rocked financial markets. His comments come after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a steep 32% tariff on Taiwan, citing the island's significant trade surplus with the U.S.
Speaking to reporters at parliament, Lin emphasized Taiwan's willingness to discuss a broad range of economic issues with Washington, including U.S. investments, purchases, and non-tariff barriers. “As long as there is a confirmed time and method for negotiations, they can be discussed at any time with the United States,” he said.
The statement followed a turbulent day for Taiwan’s stock market, which suffered its biggest drop in history on Monday, falling nearly 10% amid fears of escalating trade tensions. On Tuesday, the market showed signs of stabilization, with the benchmark index trimming its losses to around 3% in morning trading.
Shares of TSMC, the world’s largest contract semiconductor manufacturer and a key player in global chip supply chains, also rebounded slightly, slipping just 1% after Monday’s plunge.
Taiwan, a major tech hub and critical part of the global semiconductor ecosystem, has found itself in the crosshairs of growing U.S. trade enforcement. Analysts say potential negotiations could help de-escalate tensions and bring stability back to the market.
The Taiwanese government’s openness to dialogue may offer a path forward amid rising protectionist policies, providing hope to investors and global tech firms reliant on Taiwan’s advanced manufacturing capabilities.