Michael Rue (far left) leads the USA Rice delegation at 10th annual Taiwan Technical Meeting
May 01, 2025
TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Representatives of the U.S. and Taiwanese rice industries and Taiwan's Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA) met here earlier this week for the group's annual technical meeting.
“We were happy to make the trip and visit with AFA and the Taiwan rice industry here this week," said California rice farmer Michael Rue who is chair of the USA Rice Asia Trade Policy Committee.
As in previous years, both sides exchanged information on rice production and utilization trends and predictions for the coming year. Other topics for the meeting included Taiwan's purchases of U.S. rice including its World Trade Organization (WTO) tariff rate quota fulfillment as well as its process for setting maximum residue limits for crop protectants used on U.S. rice. The group also discussed the international rice market and freight situation.
Taiwan joined the WTO in 2002 and began importing rice from the United States after establishing a U.S. country-specific quota (CSQ) in 2007. The current U.S. CSQ is 64,634 MT, with 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 continued, "We deeply appreciate the relationships we have built over the years with the Taiwanese rice industry and government representatives. With an anticipated good crop year ahead, we look forward to the new marketing year and seeking more opportunities for U.S. rice."