March 21, 2011

Taiwan has been informed that the import ban on US beef products containing ractopamine residue could have repercussions for the nation's long-standing request to be included in the US visa-waiver programme.

The US had expressed concern over the import ban by Taiwan, the six-largest market for US beef exports at US$114.3 million in October last year, according to US Meat Export Federation.

Taiwan's deputy minister of Foreign Affairs Shen Lyu-shun said the US government expected to see progress on the ractopmaine issue before talks on a visa-waiver agreement could take place.

"We aim to separate the beef issue from other bilateral issues and hope that both countries can set aside disputes," Shen said.

The US postponed a meeting of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) between the two countries early this year after Taiwan removed US beef products from the supermarket shelves when traces of ractopamine were found.

Urged by the US to allow the use of ractopamine in meat products in accordance with standards adopted by the US and 25 other countries, the Taiwanese government had said it would not revise its zero-tolerance policy unless the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) established standards for trace levels of ractopamine.