Taipei clarifies China corn imports not a policy shift

The Taiwan Council of Agriculture (COA) sheds light on the government's clandestinely opening Taiwan's doors to China feed corn imports, stating Chinese shipments were being made to meet supply shortages and not for any policy changes.

The Ma Ying-jeou administration is adamant in opening Taiwan further to Chinese agricultural products in a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China, a pledge that has been received with scepticism by the potential deal's critics.

The media reports Taiwan was opening its doors to feed corn and other grains to gain favour with China, but the Council of Agriculture stated on Sunday (December 13) that Chinese feed corn was being imported on a spot basis to meet emergency needs.

The COA says Taiwan imports 99 percent of the feed corn consumed domestically, mostly from the United States and Brazil. China corn imports were approved after being requested by local dairy farms to cope with postponed deliveries from other parts of the world or surging prices.

COA figures show that a total of 6,285 tonnes of the corn used to feed livestock have been imported from China so far this year, compared to 137,821 tonnes in 2008 and 90,448 tonnes in 2004, all accounting for less than 3.2 percent of Taiwan's average annual demand of 4.3 million tonnes.