Taiwan Eases Restrictions on Canadian Beef Imports

An undated file photo of cattle. Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images

Taiwan’s government agreed Thursday to ease restrictions on imports of Canadian beef from cattle aged 30 months or older, granting Canadian beef exporters full access to the Taiwanese market.

Taiwanese Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director Wu Shou-mei said the changes will take effect immediately, but six types of offal, including brains and eyes, will remain prohibited owing to safety concerns.

Wu said that Taiwan authorities will randomly select imported batches for inspection following the changes, and batches that do not meet specifications will be destroyed or returned, Taipei Times reported.

Taiwan’s government had previously banned imports of Canadian beef slaughtered more than 30 months earlier over concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease.

The FDA issued a notice regarding its plan to lift the ban, saying the decision was made because Canada obtained the “negligible risk status” for BSE from the World Organization for Animal Health.

Canada’s Trade Minister Mary Ng said last month that Taiwan agreed to allow Canadian beef exporters full access to its market following their talks at an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation ministers’ summit.

“As we negotiate our foreign investment promotion and protection arrangement, we continue to foster opportunities between our two economies, creating good jobs for Taiwanese and Canadian workers,” Ng stated on Twitter.

In a statement on May 26, the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) said it welcomes Taiwan’s move and said the Indo-Pacific region holds “the greatest potential” for beef export diversification.

“This sends a strong signal in the Indo-Pacific region and our industry is proud to support global food security by producing a sustainable and high-quality product destined for dinner tables around the world,” CCA President Nathan Phinney said.

President Tsai Ing-wen speaks about recent Chinese military drills in Taipei, Taiwan, on April 11, 2023. Taiwan Presidential Office via AP

Taiwan has been seeking greater diplomatic and moral support from major Western democracies, like Canada, as it faces growing military and political pressure from China to give in to Beijing’s sovereignty claims over the island.

Taiwan Aiming to Join CPTPP

Taiwan has been seeking more trade deals with Western countries, including launching negotiations with Canada for the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Arrangement.

The talks about the investment agreement aligns with Ottawa’s plan to increase trade and influence in the fast-growing Indo-Pacific region.

Taiwan, like China, has applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). It has been lobbying existing members such as Canada to back its application.

During her meeting with Canadian representative Jim Nickel in March, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said she hopes that Canada will support Taiwan’s accession in the CPTPP.

“Taiwan is making every effort to join the CPTPP and hopes that Canada will support our accession to this trade bloc, so that we can promote greater global prosperity together,” Tsai said, according to her office.

“Taiwan is committed to working with Canada and other like-minded partners to uphold security, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region,” she added.

Nickel said that Canada looks forward to strengthening its economic and commercial partnership with Taiwan.

Reuters contributed to this report.