Products made in Taiwan and sold directly to the United States might benefit, while Taiwanese companies with manufacturing facilities in China are likely to suffer

Taiwan News  
Date: 2018/03/23
By:  Central News Agency

TAIPEI (CNA) — U.S. President Donald Trump’s announced tariff plan targeting China

could hurt Taiwanese companies with factories in China but benefit “made-in-Taiwan” (MIT) products, scholars predicted Friday.

The U.S.’s tariff plan is aimed at protecting the intellectual property rights of American high-tech companies and is expected to have a big impact on Taiwanese companies with factories in China, Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research President Wu Chung-shu (吳中書) said.

Taiwanese companies are involved in every step of the supply chain in China, with some making their products in China before exporting them to the United States or Europe and others exporting semi-finished products to China before selling them to other countries, Wu said.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/03/24
By: Tien Yu-pin and Frances Huang

Taipei, March 24 (CNA) Sentiment toward Taiwan’s economy showed signs of weakening in March on expectations that rising inflation will compromise private consumption, according a survey released by Cathay Financial Holding Co.

The caution also reflected the composite index of monitoring indicators flashing a “yellow-blue” light — signaling sluggish growth — in January for a second consecutive month, Cathay Financial said.

Affected by the lower composite index and worries over higher inflation, 41.8 percent of respondents said the economy will get worse over the next six months, compared with only 24.2 percent who said it will get better, the survey showed.

That sent the economic optimism index for March falling to minus 17.6 (reflecting the difference between pessimistic and optimistic respondents), down from minus 8.6 in February, Cathay Financial said.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-03-23

President Tsai Ing-wen says the government will work to protect Taiwan’s interests amid

trade friction between the US and China.

Tsai was speaking Friday while meeting with members of the Asia Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce.

The president said that Taiwan will hold discussion with the US to ensure that friction with Beijing does not affect Taiwan’s trade interests. She also said the government will work to raise the proportion of Taiwanese components in goods destined for the US. This way, they can be labeled as made in Taiwan and avoid tariffs targeting China.

Tsai called on Beijing and Washington to resolve their differences through talks and avoid a trade war.    [FULL  STORY]

The Smart City Summit in March and Computex in June are set to make Taiwan’s ICT industry flourish and re-energize Taiwan’s high-tech sector

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/03/23
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Reporter

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – One of the most-anticipated and talked-about events of the year

for ICT players is coming up next week! The 2018 Smart City Summit & Expo, one of the world’s largest trade shows dedicated to Internet of Things (IoT) applications for smart cities, is set to make Taiwan’s Information and communication technology (ICT) industry flourish.

Liang Su, the chairman of Taiwan Smart City Solutions Alliance (TSSA) and MITAC Information Technology Corp., said in an exclusive interview with Taiwan News on Thursday that the show will attract a record-high number of registered visitors/exhibitors and trade teams, from 120 cities of 33 countries.

The event will provide an exhibition space and educational forum for a wide range of top quality IoT applications that may be integrated into Taiwanese businesses and society. Su is hoping that the Smart City Summit will soon catch up with Computex, one of the world’s leading ICT trade shows, which is scheduled for June every year in Taipei.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/03/23
By: Tsai Yi-chu, Chung Jung-feng and Christie Chen

Taipei, March 23 (CNA) U.S. President Donald Trump’s announced tariff plan targeting China could hurt Taiwanese companies with factories in China but benefit “made-in-Taiwan” (MIT) products, scholars predicted Friday.

The U.S.’s tariff plan is aimed at protecting the intellectual property rights of American high-tech companies and is expected to have a big impact on Taiwanese companies with factories in China, Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research President Wu Chung-shu (吳中書) said.

Taiwanese companies are involved in every step of the supply chain in China, with some making their products in China before exporting them to the United States or Europe and others exporting semi-finished products to China before selling them to other countries, Wu said.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-03-22

The Sourcing Taiwan trade show opened in Taipei on Thursday. This is the first time that

businesses from Southeast Asia are taking part in the event.

This is the 10th year of the exhibition and over 50 countries and 200 businesses are participating, including 60 from Southeast Asia.

Vice President Chen Chien-jen welcomed these new participants at the event’s opening.

Chen said, “I believe through this event and the product and technology exchanges between countries, we can learn from each other and have closer cooperation. We can promote transformation and innovation in industry in Taiwan and New Southbound policy countries. We welcome representatives from Southeast Asian countries.”

Taiwan’s New Southbound policy is intended to strengthen ties with countries in South and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.    [SOURCE]

U.S. is largest market for Taiwanese steel

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/03/22
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – If a trade war breaks out between the United States and China,

Taiwan could be its first and biggest victim, Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-long (楊金龍) said Thursday.

Minister without Portfolio John Deng (鄧振中) is currently visiting the U.S. in order to avert tariffs of 25 percent on Taiwanese steel products and 10 percent on aluminum products to be introduced on March 23 by the administration of President Donald Trump. Deng reportedly said that he was continuing his efforts, the Central News Agency reported.

As the U.S. was the largest market for Taiwanese steel and the sixth largest for Taiwanese aluminum, the island’s economy would feel the repercussions of any tariff hikes, Yang said after his first meeting as head of the bank to discuss interest rates. For the seventh time running, the institution decided not to change the rates, the CNA reported.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/03/22
By: Chiu Po-sheng and William Yen

Taipei, March 22 (CNA) Taiwan’s economic growth rate for this year is projected to be

2.58 percent, with the consumer price index (CPI) and core CPI set to grow at a pace of 1.27% and 1.26% respectively in 2018, according to the Central Bank’s forecast Thursday.

At its quarterly policymaking meeting, held the same day, the bank decided to keep its benchmark discount rate at 1.375 percent while leaving its rates on accommodations against secured loans and on temporary accommodations unchanged at 1.75 percent and 3.625 percent, respectively.

It was the seventh consecutive quarter the bank has declined to change its key interest rates, a decision that was widely expected at the first policymaking meeting under new bank Governor Yang Chin-long (楊金龍), who took office in February.

According a Central Bank press release, for the year to date, exports have risen adequately while capital equipment imports have decreased only slightly.  [FULL  STORY]