On the afternoon of September 30, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Luke Lindberg, under secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the United States Department of Agriculture. In remarks, President Lai stated that Taiwanese businesses plan to purchase US$10 billion of American agricultural products over the next four years, which will boost the efficiency of Taiwan’s livestock industry and enhance its food security. The president expressed hope of utilizing Taiwan’s advantages in the high-tech industry to strengthen cooperation between Taiwan and the US in agricultural technology innovation and food security and resilience, fostering an even more mutually beneficial partnership.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
It is a pleasure to once again welcome Under Secretary Lindberg, a good friend of Taiwan, just a year after his previous visit. Taiwan’s agricultural trade goodwill mission just concluded its visit to the US. And now, we are meeting with Under Secretary Lindberg and his delegation of dozens of industry representatives, highlighting the deep friendship and close partnership between Taiwan and the US. I extend a sincere welcome to our guests and applaud this step forward in Taiwan-US trade exchanges.
Taiwan is currently the seventh-largest trade partner of the US and its seventh-largest export market for agricultural products. The US has also become Taiwan’s largest investment destination and largest market for agricultural exports. All of this goes to show that, in trade and the agricultural sector, Taiwan and the US are interdependent and enjoy close collaboration.
This month, Taiwan’s agricultural mission visited Washington, DC, and several agricultural states, including South Dakota, Under Secretary Lindberg’s home state. This demonstrated that Taiwan is determined to continue elevating the Taiwan-US trade partnership. During the trip, industry representatives from Taiwan and the US signed procurement letters of intent. Taiwanese businesses plan to purchase US$10 billion of American agricultural products, including soybeans, wheat, corn, and beef, over the next four years. We anticipate that importing high-quality raw materials for animal feed will boost the efficiency of Taiwan’s livestock industry. And US agricultural products can also enhance Taiwan’s food security.
Taiwan is also a reliable and important partner to the US in technology. Looking forward, we hope to utilize Taiwan’s advantages in the high-tech industry to strengthen cooperation between Taiwan and the US in agricultural technology innovation and food security and resilience. Taiwan faces geopolitical risks and challenges as it is situated on the first island chain in the Indo-Pacific and serves as a crucial hub for global non-red supply chains. I believe that regional neighbors and like-minded countries must join hands to safeguard global peace, stability, and prosperity.
This delegation led by Under Secretary Lindberg not only contributes to mutual prosperity in agricultural trade across the public and private sectors, it also symbolizes the firm and steady steps by which we are deepening the strategic and economic partnership between Taiwan and the US. Let us continue to work together to strengthen Taiwan-US relations and contribute even more to global prosperity.
Under Secretary Lindberg then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for having them here today. He then expressed their sincere best wishes to all of the people in Taiwan who were impacted by Super Typhoon Ragasa. He mentioned that their delegation, consisting of 25 US businesses, is here to help sell US agricultural products and build continued relationships in Taiwan. He also noted that it is a particularly exciting time of year to be here in Taiwan to celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, which is a time of cultural importance here in Taiwan.
Under Secretary Lindberg thanked Taiwanese consumers for continuing to purchase American agricultural products, adding that roughly 25 percent of the food that is imported into Taiwan is from the US, contributing to Taiwan’s food security. As a friend of Taiwan, he said, the US is also committed to Taiwan’s resilience through energy security.
Mentioning the recent goodwill mission that Taiwan’s minister of agriculture led to the US last week, Under Secretary Lindberg said that he comes as well with some goodwill for the Taiwanese people, explaining that they have decided to take the next step in allowing Taiwanese producers of pineapple access to the US market. He expressed hope that this will bring great joy and prosperity to many families here in Taiwan as the mid-autumn season begins. The under secretary said he looks forward to their discussion and expressed hope for continued prosperity and growing relations.
The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by American Institute in Taiwan Acting Director Karin M. Lang.
