Aggressive US tariffs have further deepened citizens’ concerns about the island’s reliance on American interests. Taiwan tried to preempt tariffs through semiconductor diplomacy: in March, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC) announced an additional $165 billion investment in its American semiconductor production efforts. While

The forces driving these developments predate Trump’s trade escalation; tariffs, however, have turbocharged them in ways that increase the challenges facing Taiwan. Regardless of whether tariff rates are further maintained at 10 percent, are negotiated down to a lower rate, or jump back up to the 32 percent threatened in April, the effects of the

Since 2018, the U.S. government has imposed a series of tariffs on imports from the People’s Republic of China (PRC, or China) with the stated intention of addressing U.S. concerns about PRC trade practices and foreign policies. Since January 2025, the Trump Administration’s trade policy and tariff actions have maintained a focus on China among