TAIPEI, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Taiwan's Foxconn ( FXCOF )

said on Wednesday it expects any impact of new tariffs from U.S.

President-elect Donald Trump to hit it less than its rivals,

citing its global manufacturing footprint.

Young Liu, chairman of the contract manufacturer and key

Apple ( AAPL ) supplier, told reporters after a forum in Taipei

that it saw the primary impact of any fresh tariffs falling on

its clients because its business model was based on contract

manufacturing.

"Clients may decide to shift production locations, but

looking at Foxconn's ( FXCOF ) global footprint, we are ahead. As a

result, the impact on us is likely smaller compared to our

competitors," he said.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Monday that on his

first day in office he will impose a 25% tariff on all products

from Mexico and Canada, and will charge goods from China an

additional 10% tariff.

Foxconn ( FXCOF ), the world's largest contract electronics maker, has

large manufacturing facilities in China including a giant iPhone

assembly plant.

However, it has been increasing its investments in other

countries such as the United States, Mexico, and Vietnam as part

of a supply chain diversification effort. In Mexico, it is

building a large manufacturing facility to produce Nvidia's ( NVDA )

GB200 AI servers.

Liu said Foxconn ( FXCOF ) would only be able to share more details

about the company's U.S. plans after Jan. 20, once Trump takes

office and his policies and tariff changes become clearer.

"After that, we will have a corresponding strategy in place," he

said.

"What you're seeing now is a game between nations, not yet

between companies. Whether it's 25% or an additional 10%, the

outcome is uncertain as they continue to negotiate. We are

constantly adapting and refining our global strategy."

During Trump's 2017-2021 presidency, Foxconn ( FXCOF ) announced a $10

billion investment in Wisconsin that the company later mostly

abandoned. On Tuesday, Foxconn ( FXCOF ) said a subsidiary had spent $33

million to acquire land and factory buildings in Harris County,

Texas.

Foxconn ( FXCOF ) will continue investing in Mexico, Liu added as it

believed the trend was moving towards regional manufacturing.

Mexico, with over 100 million people and its proximity to the

South American market, presented a significant opportunity, he

added.