Taiwan Becomes Latest Asian Country to Reopen Market to U.S. Beef, NCGA Notes (2-1-06)

Taiwan became the third Asian nation to lift its ban on U.S. beef last week, as U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced that Taiwan will resume trade in U.S. boneless beef from animals younger than 30 months of age, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) notes.

“We’re excited to see the Asian markets reopen to U.S. beef,” said Bill Chase, chairman of NCGA’s Production and Stewardship Action Team. “These markets are very valuable to livestock and corn producers. NCGA applauds the efforts of Secretary Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman in securing these agreements.”

Taiwan's announcement closely follows the recent reopening of several other major Asian markets to U.S. beef in Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore.

"I'm extremely pleased with Taiwan's resumption of trade in U.S. beef," said Johanns. "This advances our goal to resume normal beef trade throughout the world that follows science-based international guidelines in food and animal safety."

In 2003, the United States exported more than $76 million worth of beef to Taiwan, with boneless beef products accounting for $56 million. Taiwan's market is now open to more than 90 percent of total U.S. ruminant and ruminant products valued at $325 million in 2003. After the discovery of a BSE-infected cow in the United States, $4.8 billion worth of U.S. beef and beef product exports were banned. Markets accounting for $3.8 billion have since been recovered.

Taiwan reopened its market to U.S. beef in April 2005, but closed it again in June following the confirmation of a second U.S. case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE).