The Cabinet says Taiwan and the United States have completed the 5th round of
in-person trade talks with a focus on lowering the reciprocal tariffs...

It says Vice Premier Zheng Li-jun and Trade Repersentative Jenny Yang arrived
back in Taiwan early this morning.

In a press release, Taiwan's Office of Trade Negotiations stresses that
Taiwan has never made any promises regarding U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard
Lutnick's suggestion of a "50-50 split" in semiconductor manufacturing with
the U.S.

It also says Taiwan won't approve such terms and will handle the issue with
utomost caution.

According to the Office, the talks have made progress in lowering the
reciprocal tariff rate without stacking it onto the original
Most-Favored-Nation tariff rate, and securing better treatment under Section
232.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has launched a Section 232 investigation
under the Trade Expansion Act into the semiconductor and other industries,
the outcome of which could result in tariffs or other restrictions.

Taiwan’s provisional reciprocal tariff rate of 20% has already taken effect.

(JL)