From Industrial Re-shoring to Low-Carbon Diplomacy: Taiwan's Place in the New Energy Geopolitical Order

The global energy map is being redrawn, and the tariff policies introduced under the Trump administration marked a watershed moment—a turning point when energy geopolitics shifted from "resource rivalry" to "institutional competition." From that moment on, energy was no longer a mere trade commodity; it became synonymous with national security, diplomacy, and technological governance.

Tariffs, once viewed purely as trade barriers, have evolved into strategic levers of energy governance and technological competition. As Abraham Li, Vice Chairman and APEC Executive Director of the Alliance for Climate Cooperation (ACC), observes:
"Trump's tariffs were never just about economics—they were an extension of national security and energy strategy."

In his view, the U.S. is restructuring the global supply chain through a security lens, driving a profound reordering of the world's energy, industrial, and diplomatic landscapes. Taiwan, he argues, must seize this moment—transitioning from an export-driven manufacturer to an active participant in global energy technology and institutional dialogue.

The geopolitical landscape of global energy is being reshaped, and Trump's tariff policy marks a pivotal moment when energy geopolitics transitions from a competition over resources to a competition over systems. At that moment, energy ceased to be merely a trade commodity and instead became synonymous with national security, diplomacy, and technology governance./span>

The North American Corridor: From Export Manufacturing to Local Negotiation

"The United States is no longer the symbol of a free market—it's using tariffs to build a defensive wall in the name of national security," Abraham says firmly.

He points to Section 232 tariffs, which reshaped imports of steel, aluminum, and other metals. These materials, he stresses, are not just industrial inputs but the backbone of the energy ecosystem—vital for wind turbine towers, power grids, and transmission pipelines.

"When tariffs change the origin of those materials, they're restructuring the foundation of energy resilience," he explains.