On July 7, US President Donald Trump unveiled tariff rates for 14 major trading partners, with Taiwan absent from the first list, raising market concerns. According to reports, finance expert Wu Mow-hua pointed out that Taiwan's omission from this list does not signal a severe situation but indicates that negotiations are still ongoing. He emphasized that this is his personal view.

In addition to announcing the tariff rates, Trump also 'reminded' the notified countries that if they raise tariffs against the US, they will face equal tax rates. Furthermore, foreign media have reported that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently singled out Taiwan, warning that if a trade agreement is not reached, Taiwan could face a restoration of the 32% tariff previously announced on April 2, starting August 1.

The Presidential Office of Taiwan indicated that President Lai Ching-te conducted a video call with the negotiating team, stressing that the core objectives are to protect national and industrial interests and ensure public health while striving for reasonable tariffs. Wu Mow-hua stated that Taiwan's absence from the initial list is advantageous because Japan's tariffs have increased by one percentage point compared to the previous rates, indicating difficulties in US-Japan negotiations; similarly, South Korea remains at a high 25% tariff.

He noted that the US seeks increased investment from Taiwan, commitments to purchase Boeing aircraft and natural gas, implying that Taiwan may need to 'swallow' a 15% tariff while a non-acceptance could start at 25%. Furthermore, he highlighted that the critical 232 clause affects 80% of Taiwan's exports to the US, suggesting that Taiwan might have no choice but to comply.