Economic Minister Wang Mei-hua says a recent referendum question result aids Taiwan's bid to join the CPTPP and other international organizations. Wang was referring to the outcome of a referendum question asking voters if they wanted to reimplement a ban on pork imports containing the leanness-enhancing additive ractopamine. Last Saturday, people voted against the proposal, along with three other questions.
Besides pork imports, the referendum asked voters if they wanted to reactivate a nuclear power plant, move a planned liquefied gas terminal, and hold referendums alongside general elections in the future.
Wang's comments came on Monday during a report to the legislature. Wang says that voters' opinions on ractopamine-treated pork imports shows that the public is willing to accept international trade standards.
Earlier this year, Taiwan submitted an application to join the regional CPTPP trade bloc. Proponents of ractopamine-treated pork imports say that reinstating the ban would have hurt Taiwan's odds of gaining CPTPP membership
Wang says it is essential for Taiwan to work towards joining more global organizations. She says that Taiwan's previous ban on ractopamine-treated pork was the biggest obstacle in US-Taiwan trade relations. Saturday's referendum benefits the Taiwan-US trade relationship.