Deputy Foreign Minister Andrew Kao says that the issue of US pork imports is not a high priority in bilateral trade negotiations with the United States. Kao’s comment on Monday came after a ruling party lawmaker, Johnny Chiang, asked the foreign ministry if the United States is pressuring Taiwan to open its market to US pork.
US pork contains a leanness enhancing drug called ractopomine, which is legal in the United States, but illegal in Taiwan.
Deputy Minister Kao said that it’s true that the United States wants Taiwan to open its market to US pork. But Taiwan also wants to make it clear that US pork imports are not a high priority on Taiwan’s negotiation agenda. Kao said there are many other trade issues that need to be resolved during the trade talks.
Chiang said that the foreign ministry might be naïve in thinking that the US will support Taiwan’s bid to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a high-level free trade agreement involving 12 countries along the Pacific Rim. Joining the TPP has been high on Taiwan’s agenda during the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) negotiations. Many believe that Taiwan’s opening up to US pork imports would be a precondition for the US supporting Taiwan’s TPP bid.