November 23, 2020

Taiwanese protestors march against government's decision to ease US pork import restrictions

Labour groups in Taiwan have organised an annual protest march called the "Autumn Struggle" - which also saw the participation of Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT) - to oppose the government's move to ease United States pork import restrictions, Reuters reported.

In August, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said the government would allow the import of US pork containing ractopamine from January 1, 2021. The additive, which boosts swine leanness, is banned in China and the European Union. US beef, that are more than 30 months old and have traces of ractopamine, are also banned.

While Taiwan's move to allow US pork containing ractopamine traces might be the first step towards a free trade deal between Taiwan and the US, the KMT has opposed the move, leaning on public food security concerns.

KMT chairman Johnny Chiang called on Tsai to accept a televised debate, telling his supporters that the government is expecting Taiwanese people to consume ractopamine even though Taiwanese swine don't.

In a statement, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) called on the KMT to halt its political machinations and begin rational discussions.

Tsai's government and the DPP said the move will bring Taiwan in line with international norms, adding that ractopamine is not a safety threat and that allowing US pork with traces of the additive will improve Taiwan-US relations.

DPP had previously objected to ractopamine in the past.

Meanwhile, the KMT is organising a referendum on US pork imports.

- Reuters