Taiwan’s government will soon look at whether it needs to help its domestic industry over threats by President Donald Trump to put tariffs on semiconductors, Premier Cho Jung-tai said on Wednesday.

Premier Cho Jung-tai said the island’s government would look for ways to maintain the island’s ‘leading position’.

Taiwan's government will soon look at whether it needs to help its domestic industry over threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to put tariffs on semiconductors, Premier Cho Jung-tai said on Wednesday.

Taiwan promises to support chip industry amid US tariff threats. Taiwan's trade surplus with US surged 83% in 2024, with exports reaching $111.4B.

TAIPEI: Taiwan will consider supporting its domestic industry, the government said on Wednesday (Jan 29), after US President Donald Trump warned he will soon place tariffs on overseas-made semiconductor chips.

Trump threatened tariffs Monday to bring semiconductor, chip and pharmaceutical production back to the US, arguing that many companies have relocated to Taiwan. “They left us and went to Taiwan, which is about 90% of the chip business, and we want them to come back,” said Trump.

While the tariffs aim to boost domestic manufacturing, they are unlikely to divert production from Asia immediately.

Donald Trump called for tariffs on foreign computer chips, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals from places like Taiwan in the near future.

In TSMC’s case, this is in the form of a $12 billion semiconductor factor in Arizona, supporting by a $6.6 billion CHIPS Act subsidy won last year. Since then, the semiconductor giant has pledged to build two more facilities in Arizona, bringing the company’s total planned investment to around $65 billion.

Though the United States is the global leader in designing chips, the vast majority of chip production happens overseas, particularly in U.S.-ally Taiwan.