President Lai Ching-te received the delegation of the Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders’ Association (TMBA) this afternoon (the 20th). During the meeting, the President announced that tariff negotiations between Taiwan and the United States concluded last Friday, finalizing a reduction of tariffs on Taiwanese exports to the U.S. to 15% without cumulative surcharges. This development provides robust support for the industry. President Lai expressed his hope that all Taiwanese industries will align with the nation’s strategic direction to create win-win outcomes, enabling businesses to remain rooted in Taiwan while expanding their global footprint and marketing to the world.

As global manufacturing accelerates toward smart, low-carbon, and high-value production, Taiwan’s machine tool industry stands at a critical turning point. While technological upgrades are essential, more and more companies realize that the true key to successful innovation and transformation lies not only in equipment and systems, but in the ability to continuously cultivate, retain, and accumulate critical talent.

Following a year of structural adjustments and market challenges in 2025, the Taiwan machine tool industry has welcomed a significant economic turnaround at the start of 2026. During the "TMTS 2026 and Machine Tool Industry Outlook Press Conference" held today (Jan 20), the Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders’ Association (TMBA) announced that the global industrial production cycle has entered a growth phase. Surging demand for high-precision equipment is being driven by semiconductor expansion, the energy transition, and a boom in aerospace and defense. Furthermore, with the official signing of the Taiwan-U.S. Reciprocal Tariff Agreement, Taiwan's machine tool production value and export profitability are set for a comprehensive recovery in 2026. This pivotal turning point will be spearheaded by the Taiwan International Machine Tool Show (TMTS 2026) in March, showcasing Taiwan’s robust resilience in smart manufacturing and its international competitiveness to the world.

On November 27, 2025, Walrus Pump Co., Ltd. (TWSE: 6982) grandly held its "58th Anniversary and Kaohsiung Global Plant Inauguration Ceremony." Distinguished guests from industry, government, and academia, along with collaborative partners, distributors, and supply chain representatives, gathered to witness this significant milestone in Walrus Pump's journey toward smart manufacturing and international expansion.

At the close of 2025, the most exhilarating news in the metal processing industry is the launch of the new brand "Steeval™ Cold- Finished Bars" by stainless steel giant Walsin Lihwa. This marks not only the first major branding initiative in Taiwan's steel industry but also what observers describe as the most significant transformation of Walsin Lihwa's stainless steel business in recent years, completely redefining the service model for metal material manufacturers.

Sweden’s MODIG announced the strategic acquisition of the German machine tool manufacturer LiCON, known for its strong legacy in high‑efficiency machining technologies

The aerospace industry has long been regarded as a benchmark market for high-end manufacturing. Its components are characterized not only by complex structures and massive dimensions but also by requirements for machining precision, stability, and process reliability that far exceed those of standard industrial sectors. Facing such rigorous manufacturing thresholds, Asia Pacific Elite Corp.(TTAPEC) has positioned its development around core 5-axis machining technologies focused on the aerospace market. By gradually accumulating technical expertise and executing a clear market positioning strategy, the company has successfully integrated itself into the international aerospace supply chain.

The Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA) and the German Trade Office (AHK Taiwan) jointly hosted the "TMTS Roadshow Aerospace Application Exchange Day" on November 27 at the Asia UAV AI Innovation Application R&D Center. This event attracted more than 90 industry leaders from the fields of aerospace, defense, smart manufacturing, drones, and machine tools. A total of 14 manufacturers exhibited on-site, including five machine tool companies, three German companies, and six drone companies, demonstrating the cross-domain capabilities of Taiwan's machinery industry in high-end application fields. This exchange day is one of three events in the TMTS Roadshow series; the first two were held in Taichung on November 7 and Chiayi on November 27, while the final session is scheduled for March 13 next year in Taoyuan, continuing to build supply chain integration momentum for TMTS 2026.