Following the warm response to the “SelectUSA” campaign with the biggest-ever delegation from Taiwan this past June, Taiwan again is making efforts to “Buy American” by having its grains importers organize the “2017 Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission” to visit the United States, and hold a Letter of Intent signing ceremony with three American grain associations at the U.S. Capitol on September 13, 2017.
The goodwill mission carries with a strong message that Taiwan values its economic and agricultural trade relations with the United States. 4 Senators and 11 Congressmen attended the ceremony and gave their welcoming remarks, including Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS), Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Steve King (R-IA), Rep. Billy Long (R-MO), Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS), Rep. Aumua Amata Cole Radewagen (R-AS), Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO), Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL), and Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).
Ambassador Stanley Kao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office delivered the opening remarks at the signing ceremony. He noted that since 1993, Taiwan has maintained its position as one of the top markets importing U.S. agricultural products. In 2016 alone, Taiwan imported U.S. agricultural products worth US$3.4 billion, which equals almost one-quarter of Taiwan’s total annual agricultural imports. In addition, from 1998 to 2016, ten goodwill missions were dispatched and altogether US grains products worth US$ 28 billion were purchased by Taiwanese importers. Trade missions like this one showcases the close Taiwan-US relationship that has developed over decades and also serve as a demonstration of Taiwan’s commitment to contribute to the mutual benefits of both countries.
The Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission this year is led by Dr. Chin-Cheng Huang, Deputy Minister of Agriculture. The Mission signed three Letters of Intent with the U.S. Soybean Export Council, U.S. Grains Council, and U.S. Wheat Associates, respectively. The total amount of expected purchases will be 370 million bushels (or 10.2 million metric tons) of grains, worth nearly US$ 3 billion.
Senators and congressmen who were present at the signing ceremony expressed their heartfelt appreciation for this goodwill mission, acknowledging that large grain purchases will enhance the export of American agricultural products, benefit American farmers, create jobs, and most importantly make quality agricultural products available to Taiwanese consumers.
After Washington, D.C., the Mission will embark on two separate travel routes. The Soybean and Corn Delegation will travel to Iowa, Indiana and Missouri. The Wheat Delegation will visit North Dakota, Montana and Idaho. Members of the Goodwill Mission are set to meet with local officials and grains exporters.
Ambassador Stanley Kao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office delivered the opening remarks at the Letter of Intent signing ceremony with American grain associations at the U.S. Capitol.
Head of the Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission Dr. Chin-Cheng Huang, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, addressed at the signing ceremony.
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) interacted with Mr. Willis Wu-Yeh Cheng, Chairman of the Taiwan Feed Industry Association.
Mr. Yau- Kuen Hung, Chairman of Taiwan Vegetable Oil Manufacturers Association and Mr. Sam Butler, Director of ASA on behalf of the U.S. Soybean Export Council, signed the letter of intent as Ambassador and Mrs. Kao, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS)、Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS)、Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS), Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) and Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO) witnessed.
Mr. Willis Wu-Yeh Cheng, Chairman of Taiwan Feed Industry Association and Mr. Phillip Councell Jr., Past Chairman of the U.S. Grains Council, signed the letter of intent as Ambassador and Mrs. Kao, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS), Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Rep. Steve King (R-IA)and Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS) witnessed.
Mr. Tony I-T Chen, Chairman of the Taiwan Flour Mills Association and Mr. Vincent Peterson, President of the U.S. Wheat Associates signed the letter of intent as Ambassador Kao, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS), Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS) , Rep. Steve King (R-IA) and Rep. Billy Long (R-MO)witnessed.
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) addressed at the signing ceremony joined by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO).
Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) signed on the Letter of Intent as a witness.
