Taiwanese exporters are crunching numbers and talking to American clients as they scramble to figure out how to respond to US President Donald Trump's tariff blitz that threatens to derail their businesses.

While the final impact is not yet known, factory owners on the island are clear eyed on one thing: moving operations to the United States is easier said than done.

"Taiwan's structure is what makes this industry viable," the owner of a machine tool exporter told AFP on the condition of anonymity, highlighting the island's network of small and medium-sized factories supplying his company.

"There are so many components, like gears, belts and others -- the US doesn't have these industries. Setting up a factory in the US would not be worth it," he said, describing Trump's policy as "ridiculous".

From Wednesday, Taiwanese products shipped to the United States, including electronics, machinery components, auto parts and bicycles, will be hit with a hefty 32 percent levy.

It is part of Trump's far-reaching global tariffs that have rocked world markets and sparked recession fears, as he seeks to reduce the US trade deficit and push........

© International Business Times