The Taiwan Feed Industry committed to purchasing 8.5 million metric tonnes of corn and corn products, while the Taiwan Vegetable Oil Manufacturers Association will purchase 6.5 metric tonnes of soybeans, Sanders said.

 

From 2025–2029, the Taiwanese groups will purchase agricultural products worth at least US$5.56 billion from Arkansas and other American suppliers, according to the press release by the Arkansas government. Sanders said final prices will be negotiated by the importers themselves, making it unclear how much would actually be paid.

 

The announcement comes at a particularly precarious time for one of Arkansas' largest industries, which is facing its worst period in years as a result of depressed crop commodity prices compounded by less-than-ideal weather and tariffs implemented by the Trump administration.

 

Some state agriculture experts, such as the Agriculture Council of Arkansas and Democratic Senate hopeful and farmer Hallie Shoffner, are warning of impending disaster if more isn't done to help farms — a third of which could shutter by next year without assistance, according to reporting from Talk Business and Politics. Farmer and GOP state Sen. Blake Johnson, of Corning, has also said he believes 20–30% of farmers could close their doors by year's end without help.

 

Meanwhile, Arkansas Republican US Sen. John Boozman, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, has said he is working to get federal relief money for the state's farmers.

 

Taiwan is already one of the largest markets for American and Arkansas agricultural products, according to Sanders' release. Arkansas exported roughly US$63.2 million to the country in 2024.