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

The NCBA urged the Obama Administration to explore every available option to rectify this situation as soon as possible.

U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Philip Seng also expressed dismay over the decision, saying that Taiwan's best scientists had determined the safety of U.S. beef through a thorough and extensive risk assessment, but the effort had been largely cast aside.

Seng acknowledged a positive development, however, saying that the recent addition of under-30-month bone-in cuts "has allowed us to grow this market to some degree."

In the first 10 months of 2009, Taiwan imported US$114.3 million worth of U.S. beef, six percent more than the year-earlier period, making it the sixth biggest export market for U.S. beef.

When year-end totals are available, exports to Taiwan are expected to surpass the record of US$128 million, set in 2008, according to the U.S Meat Export Federation.

In reinstating the partial ban, Taiwan failed to live up to its obligation as a trade partner, said AMI President J. Patrick Boyle.

"It is time for the government of Taiwan to maintain trade policies that are based upon the facts surrounding U.S. beef safety and consistent with its WTO obligations, " Boyle said.

In order to to minimize the impact of the legislation, Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou called a press conference hours after the announcement of its passage and downplayed the controversy as "an agricultural trade dispute."

Ma expressed hope that "the impact of this dispute will be restricted to trade and will not spread to other areas, " saying that the high level of mutual trust built between Taiwan and the U.S. on security and political matters was "hard-earned" in the 19 months since he took office.

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