Media reports suggest that US shipbuilding output is merely 1/200th of China’s, allowing China to expand its navy at an astonishing rate. In fact, the total number of Chinese warships has already surpassed that of the US Navy. Now, Trump is advocating for regaining control of the Panama Canal and imposing higher transit fees on Chinese-built ships—an aggressive move that directly targets a critical vulnerability in China’s shipbuilding industry. While Trump’s approach seeks to revive American manufacturing through drastic measures, the real challenge lies in the prevailing mindset of Americans, who are generally reluctant to enter the manufacturing sector.

On April 3, US President Trump announced a reciprocal tariff scheme that will impose tariffs of up to 32% on Taiwan. In response, the Executive Yuan held a press conference on the afternoon of April 4, announcing an allocation of NT$88 billion (approximately US$2.667 billion) to counter this move. The government has also formulated nine key areas with 20 specific measures aimed at mitigating the impact of these tariffs while enhancing industrial resilience and competitiveness, ultimately achieving goals such as diversifying markets and stabilizing employment.

The US government announced on April 2 a new tariff policy imposing a uniform 10% duty on all imported goods. Additionally, the policy introduces reciprocal tariffs ranging from 1% to 49% for specific trade partners. A key provision of the policy allows for tariff reductions if at least 20% of a product’s value originates from American-made components, a move that could significantly impact industries reliant on semiconductor imports.