Traditional manufacturers miss out on export boomWHAT GROWTH? While it was good news for traditional manufacturers, Wu said it was not a panacea. “I don’t think there is a single Taiwanese machine toolmaker that can negotiate to absorb [the tariff] in full — maybe 2 to 3 percent, but absorbing everything is impossible,” he said. Many in the traditional manufacturing sector, including Litz Hitech, have put employees on unpaid leave or reduced their working hours. Conditions for small and medium-sized manufacturers could get tougher this year if the US Federal Reserve cuts interest rates.
