Meetings with Taiwan Industry Forecast Continued Positive Trade Trend

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Representatives of the U.S. and Taiwan rice industries and Taiwan’s Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA) met here earlier this week for the group’s annual technical discussions.  
 
“Taiwan is a very important market for U.S. rice and we always appreciate the Taiwan rice industry’s willingness to meet with us and add to our discussions with AFA on the importance of U.S. rice in the Taiwanese market,” said California rice farmer Michael Rue who chairs the U.S. delegation.  “We look forward to hosting the group in the United States in 2025 and the continued collaboration with AFA to ensure U.S. rice exporters meet the needs in Taiwan.”
 
Topics for the meeting included an exchange of information on this year’s rice production and utilization in both countries; a review of Taiwan’s purchasing of U.S. rice including their World Trade Organization (WTO) tariff rate quota fulfillment requirements; discussion of Taiwan’s maximum residue limits for crop protectants used on U.S. rice; and updates on the U.S. price and freight situation.
 
Taiwan began importing rice from the United States when they established a U.S. country-specific quota in 2007 after joining the WTO in 2002.  The current quota for U.S. rice is 64,634 MT, within an overall annual import quota from all WTO members of 144,720 MT.  Taiwan purchases primarily medium grain but also purchases long grain, short grain, and fragrant rice from the United States.
 
Rue expressed hope for this coming year.  “With a good crop year ahead of us, both sides are hopeful that trade volumes will continue at normal levels and Taiwan will meet their WTO obligation with no issues in 2024.”