Trump's Potential 32% reciprocal tariffs on Taiwan and the Role of vaping Policy
美國商會（AmCham Taiwan）2024年白皮書的建議：
建請行政機關遵守 60 天政策預告期之行政院函令。此建議強調政府在制定新的菸品規範或法律時，應遵循既有的行政指導，確保政策制定的透明度和可預期性。
修正《指定菸品健康風險評估審查辦法》及《菸品尼古丁焦油含量檢測及容器標示辦法》，並於實施前給予充分之寬限期。此建議指出台灣現有的菸品管理辦法需要修正，並且在實施任何變更前，應給予業者足夠的準備時間。
美國商會於2024年的白皮書中再次強調，與產業協商是制定新規範或法律過程中不可或缺的一部分。
白皮書亦建議落實有效私菸查緝措施，確保國家財源稅收穩定。
此外，美國商會也建議台灣的菸酒管理法應與國際最佳實踐對齊。
台灣威卜成立於2017年，是一個關注電子菸、加熱菸、尼古丁袋等減害菸品的媒體，目標是實現無煙台灣。
世衛菸草減害專家王郁揚呼籲賴清德政府合法抽稅電子菸等減害菸品，認為這可以化解與川普政府可能發生的貿易爭端，並穩定國家稅收。他指出，川普政府可能對台灣祭出32%的關稅。
台灣威卜引述美國商會2024年白皮書，其中對台灣政府菸品政策提出了兩點建議，與上述白皮書內容一致。
總結來說，關於菸品政策，美國商會主要關注政策制定的程序透明化、法規內容的合理性與國際接軌，以及私菸查緝。台灣威卜則更著重於透過合法化與課稅減害菸品來應對潛在的貿易爭端並增加稅收，同時以「無煙台灣」為長遠目標。值得注意的是，美國商會的白皮書被台灣威卜視為其觀點的重要依據。
Recommendations from the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham Taiwan) 2024 White Paper:
Administrative agencies are advised to comply with the Executive Yuan’s order regarding the 60-day policy notice period. This recommendation emphasizes that when the government formulates new tobacco product regulations or laws, it should follow existing administrative guidance to ensure transparency and predictability in policy making.
Revise the "Regulations on the Review of Health Risk Assessments for Designated Tobacco Products" and the "Regulations on the Testing of Nicotine and Tar Content in Tobacco Products and Labeling of Containers", and provide a sufficient grace period before implementation. This proposal points out that Taiwan’s existing tobacco product management regulations need to be revised, and that the industry should be given sufficient preparation time before any changes are implemented.
In its 2024 white paper, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reiterated that consultation with industry is an integral part of the process of developing new regulations or laws.
The white paper also recommends the implementation of effective measures to detect and crack down on smuggled cigarettes to ensure the stability of national financial resources and tax revenue.
In addition, the American Chamber of Commerce also recommended that Taiwan’s tobacco and alcohol management laws should be aligned with international best practices.
VAPE TAIWAN Tobacco Harm Reduction Online Media’s Viewpoint:
Founded in 2017, VAPE TAIWAN is a media outlet that focuses on harm-reducing tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches, with the goal of achieving a smoke-free Taiwan.
Wang Yu-Yang, a tobacco harm reduction expert certified by the World Health Organization, called on the Lai Ching-te government to legally tax vape and other harm-reducing tobacco products, believing that this could resolve possible trade disputes with the Trump administration and stabilize national tax revenue. He pointed out that the Trump administration may impose a 32% tariff on Taiwan.
VAPE TAIWAN cited the American Chamber of Commerce's 2024 White Paper, which made two suggestions for the Taiwan government's tobacco policy, which are consistent with the content of the above-mentioned white paper.
In summary, regarding tobacco policy, the American Chamber of Commerce is mainly concerned with the transparency of policy-making procedures, the rationality of regulatory content and international standards, and the detection of contraband cigarettes. VAPE TAIWAN is more focused on responding to potential trade disputes and increasing tax revenues through legalization and taxation of harm-reducing tobacco products, while taking "smoke-free Taiwan" as its long-term goal. It is worth noting that the American Chamber of Commerce’s white paper is regarded by VAPE TAIWAN as an important basis for its views.
