Taiwan's Trade Tempest: US Tariffs Trigger Public Outcry

Amidst US Tariff Announcement, Government's Silence Fuels Public Discontent.

The announcement by former US President Trump regarding the imposition of a 32% reciprocal tariff on Taiwan has ignited a firestorm of criticism. Following the news, Premier Cho Jung-tai's late-night Facebook post urging citizens to "sleep soundly" was met with outrage when government officials largely remained silent on the significant development.

The lack of official response has fueled intense public reaction, with numerous online commentators flooding the Facebook pages of Premier Cho and President Lai, expressing derision with comments like "the government is sleeping" and "TSMC was given away for free."

Leading up to the announcement of the reciprocal tariffs by Trump, Premier Cho Jung-tai posted on Facebook. He stated the government had been preparing and analyzing the situation for months, emphasizing that the government was prepared, the risks were manageable, and that industries had support. He aimed to reassure both the industry and the public, concluding with an invitation to "sleep soundly."