Taiwan and US at stalemate over ractopamine

Taiwan/US trade talks were due to resume in early January but were put on hold when a resolution over ractopamine levels permitted by Taiwan was not found. The US postponed the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks,  after Taiwan blocked some shipments of US beef after finding that they contained residue of ractopamine (banned by Taiwan), an animal feed additive that promotes leanness. A TIFA is a trade pact that establishes a framework for expanding trade and resolving outstanding disputes between countries. TIFAs are often seen as an important step toward establishing free trade agreements.

Taiwan Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Sheng-Chung Lin said last week the amount of boneless beef imported from the US has continued to drop recently and that his government understands the US's concerns over Taipei's stance regarding imports of the meat, Central News Agency reported. However, he pointed out that Taiwan's regulations do not allow for any traces of ractopamine in meat. According to Lin, Taiwan has laid out its current regulations but the US has not accepted them. Read more ...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine from Perendale Publishers.