Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 1/21/10

U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-Mich.), Trade Subcommittee Chairman Sander Levin (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-Texas) on Wednesday urged the U.S. Trade Representative's office to continue to hold Taiwan accountable for reneging on a bilateral beef trade protocol with the United States.

In a letter to USTR Ron Kirk, the congressmen expressed their support of the office's position that Taiwan's Legislative Yuan violated the agreement, signed in October, and international standards when it voted earlier this month to ban imports of U.S. ground beef, offal and certain other cattle parts deemed specified risk materials associated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

The lawmakers voiced support for USTR's use of a formal consultation mechanism provided by the protocol as well as the office's exploration of its options under the World Trade Organization in holding Taiwan up to its international trade obligations.

They also endorsed USTR's decision to suspend indefinitely discussions with Taiwan under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, but asked to be consulted before any TIFA talks would be reconvened.

"At this time, we do not believe that the United States should move forward on these talks until Taiwan is once again compliant with its obligations under the (beef) Protocol," the lawmakers wrote in the letter.

To read the entire letter, click here. 

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