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U.S./Taiwan trade talks resume after 6 years; ractopamine in pork discussed
Story Date: 3/12/2013
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Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 3/11/13
Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs reaffirmed Sunday its opposition to imports of U.S. pork containing the leanness-enhancing drug ractopamine during talks under the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.
The talks resumed Sunday after a six-year hiatus prompted by Taiwan’s 2007 ban on beef from cattle raised with ractopamine. Last August, Taiwan set an allowable maximum residue limit for ractopamine in beef at 10 parts per billion, allowing U.S. beef exports to Taiwan to resume.
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis, who led a U.S. TIFA delegation, said at a press briefing the United States will continue to push for a change in Taiwan’s stance against pork from hogs raised with ractopamine.
"This is a long-standing issue of concern," he said. "We raised it today. We will continue to raise the issue of ensuring that food safety regulations are based on science and consistent with international standards."
Smithfield Foods announced last month it is increasing its production capability for pork from hogs raised without ractopamine to serve importers with such restrictions, including China and Russia.
Smithfield’s Clinton, N.C. plant has produced ractopamine-free pork since last year and as of March 1 its large Tar Heel, N.C. plant was fully converted to ractopamine-free pork production as well.
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