This seemingly theoretical question about the longtime U.S. trading partner has taken on more relevance in the past several weeks. First, longtime fears about a potential Chinese invasion of the island ' which Beijing claims as its own ' were magnified as China increased military pressure by sending patrols, firing live ammunition nearby, practicing blockading the island and even publicly revealing the existence of new barges that might be used in an invasion. If China uses force, Taiwan's manufacturing capacity could be destroyed. Then on April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a new 32% tariff on imports from Taipei, excluding semiconductors. Taiwan described the new tariffs, part of a radical upending of U.S. trade practices, as 'deeply unreasonable.' They could also be deeply painful to U.S. consumers given the outsize role Taiwan imports play. The U.S. State Department calls Taiwan an important U.S. partner in 'semiconductors and other critical supply chains.' But as I...
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