June 30, 2009
Taiwan sees rising US beef imports
Beef imports from the US to Taiwan over the past four years have grown faster than those from Australia and New Zealand, according to statistics compiled by the Animal Industry Department of the Council of Agriculture (COA).
Since Taiwan partially re-opened its market in 2005 to US boneless beef from cattle younger than 30 months, imports of US beef have been increasing steadily in terms of volume and unit price.
The volume of US beef imports to Taiwan grew from 7,041 tonnes in 2005, to 18,260 tonnes in 2006, and 19,295 tonnes in 2007. In 2008, US beef imports to Taiwan amounted to 22,572 tonnes, which accounted for 30.84 percent of the country's total beef imports.
On the other hand, beef imports from Australia decreased from 30,254 tonnes in 2005 to 26,741 tonnes in 2008 while imports from New Zealand dropped from 28,092 tonnes to 19,429 tonnes over the same period.
Since Taiwan opened its market to foreign beef imports in 1975, the US, Australia and New Zealand have been its three major import sources. In 2003, Taiwan suspended US beef imports after a case of mad cow disease was detected in the US earlier in the year.
Currently, frozen beef from the US is quoted at US$8.87 per kilogram, more than double the average price of US$4.30 per kilogram for the same product from other countries.
Meanwhile, Taiwan is still considering whether it should fully open its market to US beef and it has been hotly debated since Stephen M. Young, departing director of the American Institute in Taiwan's Taipei Office, said last week that it is getting very close to the time when Taiwan would make a full opening to US beef.
Taiwanese importers have repeatedly been assured on the safety of US beef but local consumers have expressed their concerns and have asked the government to provide clear information on the issue.
Executive Yuan spokesman Su Jun-pin said Saturday (Jun 27) that the government has not set a timetable for a full opening to U.S. beef. He added that the Executive Yuan will fully respect the professional judgment of the Department of Health (DOH) on this issue and he brushed aside the possibility of the government allowing full importation of US beef with effect from the end of June.
