Consumers rush to buy appliances amid fears of tariff price hikes

Consumers rush to buy appliances amid fears of tariff price hikes

2025-04-11

Trump’s new tariff regime is affecting global industries, including home appliances, as many components are made in China. American home appliance manufacturers say that a rise in raw material prices coupled with the recent strengthening of the US dollar has affected import costs, which could result in higher retail prices. As a result, many rushed to the opening of this year’s Electrical Appliances Expo in Taipei, hoping to snap up a bargain on the spot before prices start rising.

Summer is coming. This new air conditioner can set a limit on your power usage to help you save money. The Electrical Appliances Expo had its grand opening on Friday. People came to the expo early in the morning worried about the impact of US tariffs on home appliance prices.

Consumer
I am worried there will be price increases or bottlenecks with the flow of goods. I’m a little concerned, so I came here to have a look.

Consumer
It’s because we recently had a need to buy something, and we are worried about whether prices would go up. We rushed here today to see if there were any good deals that we could get at a bargain.

This extra-large capacity dryer’s selling point is its American design. In this wave of tariffs, American home appliances could be the first to be hit. More than 90% of the components that make them are imported from China. The 125% tariff imposed by the US on Chinese goods, a strong US dollar and a weak Taiwan dollar could result in high import prices.

Huang Hui-chen
American appliances company
Of course, the amount of China-made components in American appliances is still quite high, at around 30%. Last time we increased prices by 3% to 5%, due to a 25% price increase in raw materials and changes to the exchange rate.

Chiu Chui-yung
American appliances company
It’s quite a struggle. Amid rising costs, we have to look at the economic situation and make adjustments.

Some manufacturers ship out products from different production locations to average out production costs. But home appliance companies say they fear excessive price hikes could turn buyers away.

Liao Chuan-ping
Taiwan Electrical Appliance Association
We are expecting price increases of more than 10%. But excessively high prices won’t be accepted by consumers. So manufactures may have to absorb the increases themselves.

How much the prices could increase remains to be seen, as many unknowns still linger over the US’ tariffs.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#costofliving #homeappliances #tariffs #taiwan

中國零件變貴! 美系家電不排除調漲民眾到電器展搶便宜

2025-04-11

川普祭出對等關稅，影響全球產業，以家電產品來說，許多零組件都是從中國進口。美系家電業者坦言，原物料上漲加上最近美元強、台幣貶，影響進口成本，不排除調漲售價。就有不少民眾趁著台北電器展開幕，來到現場搶便宜，免得之後電器越來越貴。

夏天即將到來，新款冷氣可以設定用電上限，提醒電費要破表啦，幫忙省荷包。台北電器展盛大開幕，民眾一早來逛展，就是擔心美國關稅影響，家電可能調漲。

[[消費者]]
“擔心後續會有漲價的問題，或者是一些貨的順暢問題，好像會有點預期心裡，就會趕快來看一下”

[[消費者]]
“因為我們最近剛好有購買的需求，就很擔心說，會不會有價格上面的上漲。今天趕快過來這邊看，看有沒有一些好康，可以撿便宜。”

超大容量烘衣機強調美國設計，這波關稅衝擊中，美系家電首當其衝!超過九成零組件都從中國進口，又多了125%關稅成本，加上這幾個月美元強、台幣貶，進口商品價格高。

[[美系家電品牌總經理黃惠珍]]
“美製品當然比例，還是相對是比較高的，大概有3成左右。前一波大概是25%，算是原物料的供應的上漲，包含到匯率的部分的話，(售價)大概已經有漲3%到5%”

[[美系家電代理商總經理邱垂詠]]
“這是相當掙扎的問題，成本增加，但是有時候要看經濟的狀況怎麼樣，然後去做一個調整”

廠商也透過不同產地出貨，來平均生產成本，畢竟漲或不漲，家電業者也很掙扎，就怕一次漲太多，消費者不買單!

[[台北市電器公會理事長廖全平]]
“以我預估(調漲)差不多有10%以上，因為你調漲太高的話，說實在消費者也無法接受啦，那可能就由廠商自行來吸收”

漲多少，就看後續美國對等關稅，對供應鏈成本影響有多大。

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民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
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Photo exhibition ponders role of religions and faith today

Taiwan has a diverse religious culture. To explore the meaning of religions and faith in the contemporary times, the National Center of Photography and Images is holding an exhibition delving into a myriad of religious concepts. It features over 100 works by 16 artists. Let’s take a look with FTV reporter Stephany Yang.

These works are by Stanley Fung, a photographer and pastor. He interpreted different Christian parables by utilizing different lighting techniques.

Another series of works is by Chen Po-i. He shot various photos in the temple, and assembled over 300 raw images.

Liu Kai chen
National Center of Photography and Images
Chen Po-i captures the essence of temple spaces by using long exposure techniques to superimpose images, recording the long-term interactions of people in the temple. Stanley Fung, on the other hand, draws inspiration from traditional Christian iconography and biblical stories to create images through directorial photography.

The National Center of Photography and Images has launched a photo exhibit featuring over 100 works by 16 contemporary artists, revealing the profound connotations and emotional connections of faith in contemporary Taiwanese society through the unique perspectives of photography and video. The exhibition is split into two themed sections examining different religions, customs, activities, and spiritual quests in Taiwan.

Liu Kai-chen
National Center of Photography and Images
Through images and videos, we can convey the rich tapestry of Taiwan’s diverse religious landscapes, ranging from Buddhism, Taoism, Animism, Christianity and more. The artists employ unique visual languages and techniques to depict various Taiwanese religious and folk activities, the sacred spaces of temples and people’s quests for answers to life and death’s profound questions. These images invite us to reflect on the connection between our own lives and the mysteries of the unknown.

The exhibition will be held at the National Center of Photography and Images until June 29.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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US expects Taiwan to increase defense spending

The Trump administration is expected to be very tough with Taiwan as it mounts pressure on the country to increase defense spending. Elbridge Colby, Trump’s under secretary of defense for policy, has even recently said it should be 10% of Taiwan’s GDP. This contrasts with President Lai Ching-te’s recent promise to push it to just over 3%. However, in good news for Taiwan, a former American de facto ambassador says the 10% of GDP figure is not realistic, and another former US defense official says while there were American worries in the past that Taiwan was too complacent about its defense spending, he’s noted the DPP government is now getting serious. Let’s hear what everyone had to say.

In response to expected US pressure to spend more on defense, the government is preparing to increase military procurements that will raise this year’s defense budget to over 3% of GDP. Although this is lower than the 10% expected by US Pentagon officials, former AIT Director William Brent Christensen bluntly said not to put too much weight on the numbers.

William Brent Christensen
Former AIT Director
I don’t think we need to get too fixated on what percentage of GDP is being spent on this. They’ll never get 10%. That’s not realistic. Taiwan’s spending on defense probably does not include expenses that are being devoted to civil defense, the whole resilience program, it is pretty much is part of the overall defense strategy that Taiwan’s founding.

A former American defense official also admitted that the U.S. had doubts about Taiwan’s attitude to its self-defense in the past, but these doubts were gradually dissipating.

Derek James Mitchell
Former US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
I think there are folks here in the United States over the years who have been concerned that Taiwan has not been serious enough about its defense. There’s been complacency: Well, the Americans will take care of it or the Americans will come to our defense on the one hand, or it’s just not going to happen. I think the DPP is serious. I think they’re now getting serious.

Derek James Mitchell, a former American defense official, believes that the US must speed up delivery of American weaponry that’s already been ordered. Local experts echo his views.

Su Tzu-yun
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
Combat systems including air defense missiles, anti-ship missiles, and even drones will constitute the main investments, because they are low-priced, highly efficient, and are particularly suitable for defensive operations. If the direction of investment in our military build up can be even more in accordance with this, then Taiwan will have sufficient power to stop a PRC invasion.

Taiwan’s army is adopting a multi-pronged approach to strengthen its combat capabilities in response to increasingly severe cross-strait tensions.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Engineering marvel or dangerous rickety elevator?

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Five-star hotel chef opens dim sum restaurant

Hidden in Kaohsiung’s back alleys is a five-star gourmet dim sum restaurant. The owner worked as a chef at a five-star hotel in Taipei, until he met a charming woman from Kaohsiung. Inspired by love, he moved to Kaohsiung for her. After they were married, they opened a local restaurant together. From shumai and shrimp dumplings to rice rolls and BBQ pork buns, every dish there is meticulously handmade, bringing the best flavors to their customers.

Batter is poured on the grill and topped with shrimp and scallions, making the perfect streamed rice rolls. But that’s not the only delicacy here. Shumai, barbecue pork buns, and shrimp dumplings are all masterfully prepared by the chef.

Carefully selected fresh shrimp are perfectly paired with a variety of vegetables to create this classic dim sum dish, layered with rich and unforgettable flavors.

Customer
It’s like mochi. It’s chewy inside with a little sweetness.

Customer
I can tell the chef is diligent, wrapping it himself bit by bit. You can see how full it is.

Dim sum chef
For our shumai we use grass shrimp and pork loin, making them fresh every day. I learned how to make the celery fish pancake in Hsinchu, and I make everything myself.

The delicious food brings many people down this small alley. The owner has 14 years of experience making dim sum and used to work as a chef at a five-star hotel in Taipei. He married a woman from Kaohsiung, moved there, and they opened a dim sum restaurant together.

Dim sum chef
The BBQ pork buns are white as snow, with a fluffy texture and lots of filling. I want to bring my best to this restaurant. Who says you can’t find delicious dim sum in an alley?

At this dim sum restaurant, the great flavors come from the chef’s dedication. Every dish is carefully handmade with the freshest ingredients. Customers here enjoy not only delicious food, but the chef’s meticulous culinary craftsmanship.

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Traditional pharmacy doubles as post office for coastal town

Near the Gaomei Wetlands in Taichung’s Qingshui District there’s a traditional Chinese medicine shop that’s half-a-century old. But the strange thing about it is it also doubles as a post office. They sell stamps, envelopes, and more. They also take registered mail and postmark letters. A husband-and-wife team run the entire operation. It all happened 20 years ago, when the general store next door closed down and the post office asked the pharmacy to take over.

You heard that right. Your eyes also don’t deceive you. This shop sells traditional Chinese medicine, but this customer is here to send a letter.

What kind of a pharmacy is this?

Customer
There are some older ladies, elderly people here by the coastline who need to send mail. So offering this service is convenient for them.

How did this pharmacy-slash-post office come to be?

Tsai Ming-sung
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I suspect there aren’t many traditional medicine shops that double as post offices in Taiwan. We’re probably the only one that offers these services. Our location is convenient for the people who live in the neighborhood.

The shop has operated in Taichung’s Qingshui District near the Gaomei Wetlands for 50 years. Twenty years ago, the general store next door shut down. The post office asked the medicine shop to take over offering postal services. That’s how this strange scene came to be of one owner putting together medicine while another postmarks letters.

Lee Yi-chen
Owner
The letter carrier comes at noon. We have to at least wait for them to come and get the mail before we can leave. Sometimes people send registered or double-registered mail and are in a hurry. We have to take special care with these ones. We can’t make them late. That wouldn’t be OK.

The owners can’t leave the shop until the mail carrier comes. They strive to serve their neighbors who live far off near the shore, whether it’s medicine or mail services that they need.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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Lawmakers clash, as DPP accuses KMT legislative speaker of killing democracy

There were more protests in the Legislative Yuan on Friday, as the DPP protested opposition parties sending two controversial referendum proposals to a second reading. The KMT and TPP recently sent the motion for two contentious referendums on opposing the death penalty and opposing martial law straight to a second reading. However, an official document from the Legislative Yuan clearly started the legislative session should have finished that day at 6 p.m. so the DPP is accusing the opposition of an “illegal meeting” as it held the session at night.

DPP lawmakers hold copies of an official document marked with a big cross, which stated a legislative session should end at 6p.m. They are protesting what they say was an “illegal meeting” held by the KMT and TPP where they forced a motion for two referendum proposals.

Both the TPP and KMT used their joint parliamentary majority to forcibly confirm the legislative proceedings on that day, and the two referendum proposals have now formally made it to a second reading. DPP lawmakers were so angry, that they threw the documents on the floor to show their dissatisfaction.

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Huang Kuo-chang
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I wonder exactly who it is that should be sent to the disciplinary committee. I don’t want to depict Ker Chien-ming as a cancer, but the Taiwanese people have sharp eyes.

With opposition party legislators using their numerical advantage to veto the DPP caucus’s proposal, relations between ruling and opposition legislators are likely to become more intense.

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2025-04-11