FAS administrator Isley to lead Taiwan trade mission on April 22-25.

Jacqui Fatka, Policy editor

April 19, 2019

3 Min Read
Map of Taiwan
iStock-Getty Images Plus/bedo

Representatives from 49 U.S. agribusinesses and farm organizations will join Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) administrator Ken Isley on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first-ever trade mission to Taipei, Taiwan, April 22-25.

“Taiwan and the United States have a long-standing and favorable business relationship,” Isley said. “Taiwan is an import-dependent economy and has a real affinity for U.S. ag products because of their quality, affordability and safety. What that adds up to is excellent opportunities for American exporters.”

Participants will engage in targeted business-to-business meetings, in-depth briefings and site visits while learning about the intricacies of the Taiwan market and positioning themselves for successful business dealings.

Taiwan is an important trading partner and offers many opportunities for sales of U.S. food and agricultural products. Because of its small land area and high urbanization rate, Taiwan has a relatively small agriculture sector and relies on imports for domestic use. Despite having a population of only 23.5 million, Taiwan was the U.S.'s ninth-largest export market for farm and food products in 2018. The U.S. reputation among Taiwan’s consumers for high-quality food and agricultural products and competitive prices indicates a favorable environment for future growth and opportunities.

Related:Global trade growth slows as tensions continue

Taiwan is an aging society, with more than 20% of its population expected to be older than 65 by 2026. Changing demographics and increasing incomes have transformed consumption patterns, with higher consumption levels of prepared foods and greater demand for healthy products.

Taiwan's consumers are also eating at restaurants more frequently, helping ignite strong growth in fast-food chains and casual dining establishments. These transformations led to growth between 2014 and 2018 in consumption of high-value products such as beef, fresh fruits and tree nuts. The U.S. is a primary supplier for all of these products.

In addition to representatives from the following companies and organizations, Isley will be joined by American Samoa Director of Agriculture Filifaatali M. Fuiava, Idaho Department of Agriculture director Celia Gould and officials from the Georgia and Nebraska departments of agriculture.

1. All Berry & Fruits, Portland, Ore.
2. American Soybean Assn., St. Louis, Mo.
3. Bard Valley Date Growers, Yuma, Ariz.
4. Bell-Carter Foods LLC, Walnut Creek, Cal.
5. Blinking Owl Distillery, Santa Ana, Cal.
6. Bridgepathway LLC, Jericho, N.Y.
7. Calway Foods Inc., Santa Clara, Cal.
8. CAS InterGlobal, Pleasanton, Cal.
9. Clarkson Grain Co. Inc., Cerro Gordo, Ill.
10. Cherry Marketing Institute, Dewitt, Mich.
11. Citation Wine, Issaquah, Wash.
12. Dan Maltby Risk Management Group LLC, Chanhassen, Kan.
13. Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Washington, D.C.
14. East-West International Group Inc., Moreland Hills, Ohio.
15. Export-Now.com, Ridgefield, Wash.
16. F3 Vineyards Inc., Las Vegas, Nev.
17. Flint Hills Resources LLP, Wichita, Kan.
18. Georgia Pecan Growers Assn., Tifton, Ga.
19. Global Export Marketing Co. Ltd., New York, N.Y.
20. Golden Moon Distillery, Golden, Colo.
21. Hang Tung Resources (USA) Co. Ltd., Glenview, Ill.
22. Hawaii Coffee Assn., Kona, Hawaii.
23. Kauai Coffee LLC, Kalaheo, Hawaii.
24. King Orchards, Central Lake, Mich.
25. Kirschenman Enterprises Inc., Visalia, Cal.
26. Koenig Vineyards, Caldwell, Ida.
27. La Tapatia Tortilleria Inc., Fresno, Cal.
28. Lamar Pecan Co., Hawkinsville, Ga.
29. Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Mankato, Minn.
30. Northwest Hazelnut Co., Hubbard, Ore.
31. Pacific Cheese Co., Hayward, Cal.
32. PacRim Wine & Spirits, San Rafael, Cal.
33. Pure Steeps Beverage LLC, Anaheim, Cal.
34. Redwood Trading Group, Los Angeles, Cal.
35. S.A. International Inc., Newcastle, Wash.
36. Space Enterprises LLC (World of Chia), The Woodlands, Texas.
37. Sun Grape Marketing Inc., Visalia, Cal.
38. United Dairy Ingredients Group LLC, Montebello, Cal.
39. United Natural Foods Inc., Providence, R.I.
40. USA Foods, San Francisco, Cal.
41. USA Rice Federation, Arlington, Va.
42. US Fresh Export LLC, Rosemead, Cal.
43. U.S. Grains Council, Washington, D.C.
44. U.S. Soybean Export Council, Chesterfield, Mo.
45. Vet + Instinct, Phoenix, Ariz.
46. Western Onion Sales Inc., Camarillo, Cal.
47. Western United States Agricultural Trade Assn., Vancouver, Wash.
48. Whistling Andy Distilling, Bigfork, Mont.
49. World Import/Export Trading Co., Belmont, Cal.

About the Author(s)

Jacqui Fatka

Policy editor, Farm Futures

Jacqui Fatka grew up on a diversified livestock and grain farm in southwest Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, with a minor in agriculture education, in 2003. She’s been writing for agricultural audiences ever since. In college, she interned with Wallaces Farmer and cultivated her love of ag policy during an internship with the Iowa Pork Producers Association, working in Sen. Chuck Grassley’s Capitol Hill press office. In 2003, she started full time for Farm Progress companies’ state and regional publications as the e-content editor, and became Farm Futures’ policy editor in 2004. A few years later, she began covering grain and biofuels markets for the weekly newspaper Feedstuffs. As the current policy editor for Farm Progress, she covers the ongoing developments in ag policy, trade, regulations and court rulings. Fatka also serves as the interim executive secretary-treasurer for the North American Agricultural Journalists. She lives on a small acreage in central Ohio with her husband and three children.

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