U.S. dismay over Taiwan's partial beef ban widespread

The U.S. State Department, U.S. Trade Representative Office (USTR) , U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) , the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), the U.S. Meat Export Federation (MEF) and the American Meat Institute (AMI) all expressed their disappointment over the legislature's decision to amend the Act Governing Food Sanitation.

Taiwan and the United States signed a protocol in October to allow the entry of bone-in beef and other beef products, including ground beef and offal, that had previously been banned out of concern over bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease.

The amendment, which cleared the legislature on Tuesday, effectively bars U.S. ground beef, beef offal and other beef parts such as the skull, eyes and intestines from access to Taiwan's market.

Responding to a reporter's question, Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of the Bureau of Public Affairs at the U.S. State Department, said in a briefing Wednesday that the U.S. was "very disappointed" with Taiwan's decision to ban certain cuts of U.S. beef in violation of the bilateral agreement, but the U.S. remains committed to further developing its broad-ranging and positive relationship with the people of Taiwan.

Crowley noted that the U.S., as stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act, will "continue to make available to Taiwan defense articles and services needed for Taiwan's self-defense."

In a joint statement, the USTR and USDA reiterated that Taiwan's decision does not "have a basis in science and constitutes a unilateral violation of a bilateral agreement."

"The decision by Taiwan authorities to place domestic politics over science raises serious concerns," the joint statement said.

NCBA chief economist Gregg Doud also attacked the politicization of the issue.

"This is a purely domestic political issue in Taiwan. U.S. beef producers are sick and tired of being used as a political football, " Doud said.

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