TAIPEI, April 2 (Reuters) - Taiwan President Lai

Ching-te said on Wednesday ahead of an announcement of sweeping

import tariffs by the United States that the island is an

"indispensable" member of the global supply chain and it would

defend its companies' interests.

Officials in President Donald Trump's administration,

including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, have said that much

of the focus of the reciprocal U.S. tariffs will be on 15

countries that have the highest trade surpluses with the United

States.

Bessent has referred to the countries as the "Dirty 15" but

has not named them. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Taiwan

is one of the 15, along with countries such as China and South

Korea plus the European Union. The tariffs are due to be

announced by U.S. President Donald Trump later on Wednesday.

Lai told a meeting of his ruling Democratic Progressive

Party, of which Lai is chairman, that he understood the tariffs

were a matter of great concern but the government has conducted

simulations of the impact to prepare a response plan.

"I would like to reiterate that we are the world's 21st

largest economy, and from a global perspective, Taiwan's overall

national strength makes us an indispensable and important member

of the global supply chain and regional security," he said,

according to comments provided to media by the party.

"We are very willing to share the benefits and promote

prosperity with all our international partners."

Taiwan will continue to communicate and co-ordinate closely

with the United States to safeguard the "fair competitive

position" of Taiwanese companies, and will help industries that

may be impacted by the tariffs, Lai added.

Taiwan government officials have repeatedly said trade with

the United States has been skewed by an insatiable demand for

Taiwanese technology products, such as advanced semiconductors

which is a sector that the island, home to major chipmaker TSMC

, dominates.

Taiwan has said it will cut some of its own import tariffs

and buy more U.S. energy to help balance trade.