US Applies Section 232 Tariff Exemption for Taiwan's Non-Semiconductor Products Starting May 1

The US government officially announced in the Federal Register that the Section 232 tariff exemption for Taiwan's non-semiconductor products, as specified in the Taiwan-US investment MOU, will take effect on May 1. Taiwan is the first country globally to receive this preferential treatment. The DPP caucus stated that this will significantly enhance the competitiveness of Taiwanese industries, particularly in auto parts, wood products, and aircraft components. However, officials noted that the US continues to use tariffs as a strategic tool, and Taiwan must prepare for a new normal of global trade restructuring.