Foreign Officials Voice Concerns Over Potential U.S. Chip Tariffs at Taipei Forum

Taipei: Officials from Japan, the European Union, and the United Kingdom on Tuesday expressed apprehension regarding U.S.-proposed tariffs on foreign-made semiconductors, highlighting the potential disruption to the global supply chain and underscoring the necessity of international cooperation. According to Focus Taiwan, Gen Kawai, the deputy representative of Japan to Taiwan, voiced concerns at a forum held alongside the SEMICON trade show. Kawai warned that the proposed high tariffs on semiconductors by the United States could impede Japan's efforts to strengthen its supply chain resilience. The discussion comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal of a 100 percent import tax on foreign-produced computer chips. The U.S. Commerce Department's investigation into semiconductor imports, initiated in early April, could result in tariffs or other limitations on foreign products. Kawai emphasized that, compared to Taiwan's well-established chip industry, Japan's semiconductor sector might be m ore susceptible to American tariffs. He expressed optimism about Taiwan's semiconductor industry's future, noting its critical role in supporting the U.S. AI industry. Peter Fatelnig, a senior EU official based in Japan, echoed these concerns, stating that industries are facing significant uncertainty, potentially leading to increased costs, project delays, and disruptions in investment decisions. Fatelnig advocated for "friend-shoring," a strategy focusing on supply chain partnerships with allies, to help stabilize the industry. Ruth Bradley-Jones, head of the British Office Taipei, also stressed the importance of international collaboration in building a resilient semiconductor supply chain. She highlighted the need for research and development, policy exchanges, and commercial ties, pointing out ongoing cooperation between the U.K. and Taiwan to leverage their complementary strengths. The forum, held ahead of the SEMICON trade show, was inaugurated by President Lai Ching-te. Lai emphasized Taiwan's comm itment to cooperation in investment, research, and co-production within the specialized semiconductor industry, which he noted no single country could manage alone.