Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

U.S. Beef Battle Ends with Taiwan

Taiwanese Government Lifts Ban on U.S. Beef Imports

By , Farms.com

The Taiwanese government lifted its six year ban over U.S .beef imports. The Taiwanese legislature passed a bill to lift the ban on U.S. beef. The ban was originally implemented in December 2003 with the mad cow scare and in 2009 the Taiwanese government partially removed the ban allowing cattle over 30 months of age.  There have also been concerns that US beef contained ractopamine, a feed additive that’s designed to enhance meat leanness. Taiwan rejects all meat imports with traces of ractopamine. Other countries including China and the European Union also reject the additive.

During this six year period, US beef exports went from 10% to under 4% of Taiwan’s total beef imports.  According to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, Taiwan is the sixth largest export country for U.S. beef. There was some opposition in Taiwan from the Democratic Party that protested the bill.

 


Trending Video

Aligning Many Interests in Agriculture on Crop Chemistry Legislation - Elizabeth Burns-Thompson

Video: Aligning Many Interests in Agriculture on Crop Chemistry Legislation - Elizabeth Burns-Thompson

Farmers are known for having many tools in their toolbox and right now they are looking to get one more if the push by the Modern Ag Alliance keeps moving. The organization funded by Bayer and dozens of commodity groups is working on legislation in several states and a federal bill involving glyphosate. The group looks at the benefits and science on the chemical and the litigation industry. We speak with executive director Elizabeth Burns-Thompson in this discussion.