Taiwan to ease rules on US pork, beefSETTING STANDARDS: The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it yesterday finalized a new rule that would require vendors to clearly label the origin of pork productsBy Sean Lin / Staff reporterPresident Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday announced that Taiwan would ease restrictions on US beef and pork imports, while setting standards for pork containing ractopamine, in an apparent attempt to broker a trade deal with the US. President Tsai Ing-wen, center, speaks at a news conference in the Presidential Office Building’s Entrance Hall in Taipei yesterday, alongside Vice President William Lai, left, and Premier Su Tseng-chang, right. The decision to lift the bans on US pork containing ractopamine and beef from cattle more than 30 months old is aimed at facilitating efforts to expand Taiwan’s international trade, officials said. Only about 20 percent of pig farmers in the US still use ractopamine, he said, adding that Taiwanese can always not buy US pork. The American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei yesterday in a statement welcomed the decision, saying it would help Taiwan and the US to make progress in starting negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement.

Source: Taipei Times August 28, 2020 15:56 UTC