00:00The U.S. has launched new trade investigations into Taiwan, part of the Trump administration's
00:05push to rebuild tariffs after the Supreme Court struck them down last month.
00:09U.S. officials are saying this is meant to stop countries from backing out of their original
00:15trade deals.
00:16Taiwan is one of 16 economies targeted by the U.S. under this new legal authority, known
00:21as Section 301.
00:23It is designed to address unfair foreign practices affecting U.S. commerce, to respond to unjustifiable,
00:29unreasonable, or discriminatory foreign government practices.
00:33This new provision basically allows the U.S. to retaliate if the investigation finds what
00:38it calls unfair trade practices.
00:41As to why Taiwan is being targeted, it's because of its large trade surplus with the
00:46U.S., especially in semiconductors and tech products.
00:49Taiwan seems to have been anticipating this action.
00:52It's said today that the U.S. notified them about the investigation before it was announced.
00:57Immediately after the Supreme Court ruling, Trump imposed a 10% global tariff with threats
01:03to increase it to 15%.
01:05But that will expire in July, so this new investigation is meant to keep up the pressure.
01:10The Cabinet says it has been in contact with the U.S. and that the investigation outcome should
01:15not affect the original deal.
01:28Opposition parties have been quite critical of the deal, which they warned could hollow
01:32out Taiwan's chip industry.
01:34With this new development, one opposition lawmaker says the government is once again letting the
01:38U.S. take advantage of Taiwan as it pursues its own interests.
01:42It seems that Taipei is hoping that the outcome of the probe will allow it to stick to its original
01:48trade deal with the U.S.
01:49Devin Tsai and Lily Lamantina in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.
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