Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-04-11

The foreign minister, Joseph Wu, has said talks with the United States on new steel and aluminum import tariffs are still ongoing.

Last month, President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on steel imports, and a 10% tariff on aluminum. In 2017, the United States accounted for 13.16% of Taiwan’s steel exports and 23% of its aluminum exports. This makes the US Taiwan’s largest steel export market and sixth-largest aluminum market.

At the Legislature on Wednesday, lawmakers noted that Mexico and South Korea have been exempted from the tariffs. They asked Wu whether the US has demanded certain conditions for Taiwan to be exempted. Wu said talks on the matter are still ongoing, and that he had not heard such demands. Wu also said that Taiwan is focusing on providing the US with information on the degree of Chinese product and labor involved in its steel and aluminum exports. China is the particular target of the Trump administration’s recent trade measures.    [FULL  STORY]