March 12, 2004

Taiwan Set To Lift China Corn Ban

Taiwan's Council of Agriculture has agreed to temporarily lift the ban on imports of corn from China with the aim of lowering the feed costs for livestock producers, said government sources on Friday.

The measure, which will be effective from the second half of March to sometime in mid-May, has yet, however, to be approved by Taiwan's trade authorities, said a ministry source, who declined to be identified.

The source said trade officials were likely to approve the temporary ending of the ban.

Taiwan had previously temporarily lifted the decades-old ban in November last year until January, during which time almost 70,000 tonnes of corn was imported from China.

(US$1=T$33.5)