Lai pledges 'maximum support' for Taiwan businesses amid U.S. 32% tariff

Taipei, April 3 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Thursday night pledged to provide assistance to businesses set to be hit by U.S. President Donald Trump's 32 percent tariffs on Taiwanese imports.

Describing the planned levy as "an unprecedented challenge to global trade and economics," Lai said in a social media post that the government remains closely engaged with Taiwanese industries, and will work to provide them with "maximum support," without offering details.

In the meantime, the government will continue to communicate with the United States over "the many unreasonable aspects of the tariff" and to "protect our national interests," he said.

Lai added that he has instructed the executive branch, led by Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), to report to the public about the potential impact of Trump's tariffs on Taiwan's economy and the government's response plan "in the shortest time possible."

At a news conference in Washington, Trump announced sweeping "reciprocal tariffs" on dozens of countries, with Taiwan facing an import tax of 32 percent starting April 9.

According to the White House, only a number of goods, such as copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, lumber, energy and "certain critical minerals" will be exempt from the latest economic measure.

Lai's comments were made hours after the Cabinet issued a news statement decrying Washington's planned duties, calling the move "deeply unreasonable" and "highly regrettable."

According to Lai, the pledged tariff against Taiwanese goods fails to "reflect the highly complementary" trade relationship between Taiwan and the U.S.

Taiwan has run trade surpluses with the U.S. in recent years due to growing American demand for Taiwanese information and communications technology products, Lai said, adding that he found it "unreasonable" that this is being used as a reason for Washington to impose high tariffs on Taiwan.

The president also expressed concern that Trump's tariffs will adversely impact the global economy.