AmCham urges U.S., Taiwan to resolve tariff uncertainty

Taipei, Aug. 2 (CNA) The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (AmCham Taiwan) has urged Washington and Taipei to stay in close contact and work to prevent extended disruptions to business operations, after Washington announced a 20 percent tariff on Taiwanese imports on July 31, U.S. time.

"Businesses on both sides of the Pacific are looking for predictability and a stable environment in which to operate," AmCham Taiwan Chairperson Dan Silver said in a statement issued on Friday.

"AmCham urges both governments to maintain close communication and avoid prolonged disruptions that could weaken business confidence," the statement said.

President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Friday that Taiwan is still negotiating with the U.S. in an effort to lower the 20 percent tariff, noting that he believes the "provisional" rate could be further lowered once both sides reach an agreement.

Lai said Taiwan's negotiating team brought down the tariff from 32 percent, first announced in early April by U.S. President Donald Trump, but that 20 percent was never his administration's ultimate goal.

Taiwan says negotiations with U.S. to lower 20% tariff still ongoing

The tariff on most Taiwanese exports to the U.S., which will take effect on Aug. 7, are likely to increase short-term costs for Taiwanese exporters and could impact investment and production decisions, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the statement said.

Citing data from Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs, the statement noted that the most vulnerable industries include machine tools, plastics, electronic materials, molds and hand tools.

AmCham, which represents more than 580 international companies with operations in Taiwan, said it will continue to monitor the evolving trade landscape, support government-industry engagement and assist its members.

"The strength of our trade relationship lies not just in market access, but in our shared commitment to innovation," AmCham Taiwan President Carl Wegner said, underscoring the importance of transparency and partnership.