TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Labor groups in Taiwan have expressed concern that trade talks with the US over tariffs could come at the expense of workers’ rights, reports said Tuesday.
The Trump administration in April announced a 32% tariff on imports from Taiwan, triggering a 90-day discussion period during which a basic 10% tariff would apply. There are fears the new tariff regime could negatively affect Taiwan’s economic performance in 2025.
Over the past two weeks, about 70 labor unions have voiced support for the formation of a new labor alliance focused specifically on the issue of tariffs and their potential impact on workers’ rights, Radio Taiwan International reported.
While the central government has estimated that 125,000 workers may be affected by the tariffs, the labor alliance cited much higher numbers—180,000 in Tainan and 300,000 in Taoyuan.
The alliance criticized the lack of transparency in talks with the US and warned that labor interests could be sacrificed at the negotiating table. The group called for closer communication between the government and labor unions.
The government should heed the concerns of the labor movement and provide essential information about the status of Taiwan-US negotiations, the alliance said.
