TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Nearly 85% of Taiwanese respondents oppose transferring TSMC's 2 nm technology to the US, according to a poll released Monday, as former US President Donald Trump continues to push for relocating semiconductor manufacturing through tariff threats.
Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) shared the poll results at a press conference, urging the government to prepare for potential trade negotiations under a second Trump administration, per CNA. The poll, conducted by the Foundation for the People (啟思民本基金會), found that 85.6% of respondents expect Trump to impose tariffs on Taiwan, while 62.4% believe the US holds the upper hand in trade talks.
Taiwan recorded a record-high trade surplus of US$73.9 billion (NT$2.41 trillion) with the US last year. Chiang speculated that Washington may pressure Taiwan to reduce the surplus by increasing purchases of American weapons, fossil fuels, or agricultural products.
Regarding Taiwan's semiconductor industry, 83.8% of respondents agreed that companies like TSMC are Taiwan’s “sacred mountain.” Additionally, 62.5% viewed the semiconductor sector as Taiwan’s “silicon shield,” believing that its strategic importance would prompt Western intervention if tensions with China escalated.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that Taiwan "stole" the US semiconductor industry, a statement 88.4% of respondents disagreed with. Furthermore, 84.8% opposed transferring TSMC’s advanced 2 nm process technology to the US. When asked whether the government was actively negotiating with Washington on this issue, 50% believed discussions were ongoing, while 42.6% said the government had not engaged actively.
Chiang emphasized the importance of strategic planning in light of shifting US-Taiwan trade dynamics. His comments echoed those of Wu Ta-jen (吳大任), a researcher at National Central University’s Research Center for Taiwan Economic Development, who suggested that Taiwan should consider aligning with Trump’s push for reshoring manufacturing by focusing on industries suitable for US investment, per Rti.
DPP Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) said President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) discussed the challenges of a second Trump presidency at a DPP luncheon on Sunday, framing them as opportunities. However, his remarks drew criticism from KMT Caucus Secretary-General Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) and TPP Legislator Chen Chau-tzu (陳昭姿), who argued that the administration should take the potential risks more seriously.
The poll was conducted from Feb. 18 to 21, 2025, targeting internet users aged 20 and above across Taiwan. It gathered 1,042 valid responses via Facebook ads and had a sampling error of plus or minus 3.03% at a 95% confidence level.
