News

In response to the United States' announcement of increased tariffs on Taiwan, the mayors of the eight cities and counties in Central Taiwan convened an emergency video conference for the "Central Taiwan Regional Governance Platform Leadership Summit" at 9 PM on April 7th. While Nantou County—primarily reliant on agriculture and tourism—is expected to face less severe impact compared to central Taiwan's major industrial counties, preliminary assessments indicate that approximately 25% of its traditional industries will still be affected. Nantou County Mayor Hsu Shu-Hua announced plans to host a meeting with local business representatives on April 9th to discuss response strategies. She also urged the central government to ensure that agriculture and other vulnerable industries are not disproportionately impacted in the tariff negotiations.

Mayor Hsu emphasized that while Nantou’s economic structure suggests a more moderate initial impact than industrial strongholds such as Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, and Changhua, preliminary estimates indicate that a quarter of the county’s traditional businesses will feel the effects of the new tariffs. The precise financial impact remains under evaluation. To address these concerns, the county government will meet with business leaders on April 9th to assess challenges and gauge the immediate impact, with the goal of informing the central government’s review and response efforts. Additionally, the county government intends to propose relief and mitigation measures for the small industrial parks under its jurisdiction.

Hsu also expressed concerns about potential long-term effects on agriculture, citing President Lai’s remarks about increasing agricultural imports from the United States. She raised concerns about whether such imports might undermine Taiwan’s existing agricultural sector, noting that ongoing tariff negotiations between the central government and the U.S. will determine the extent of the impact. The Nantou County Government will proactively monitor and respond to these developments, reiterating its call for the central government to prioritize agricultural protection and safeguard vulnerable industries throughout the trade discussions.

The meeting concluded with a seven-point joint statement, which included recommendations for the Executive Yuan to swiftly and accurately assess the details of U.S. tariff adjustments to inform relevant agencies and businesses. Other measures included assurances from state-owned banks that they will refrain from tightening credit within the year to stabilize industries, support for the Executive Yuan’s NT$88 billion assistance package, and collective efforts to expand market opportunities beyond the United States.