¡§It would have been impossible to cover that much ground without the assistance of the ATO.  I truly appreciate all of the effort in planning and setting up the week.  I think everything went remarkably smooth, especially when you consider the diverse group we brought over and the logistics involved.¡¨

¡V Mr. Brad Honl, The Schwan Food Company, 2007 Minnesota Trade Mission participant

The ATO assists in the coordination of U.S. sales missions to Taiwan. Sales missions promote U.S. agricultural exports by matching U.S. exporters with Taiwan buyers and generating media attention to quality U.S. foods & beverages available for sale. In addition, sales missions help to inform U.S. firms about local business conditions, distribution patterns and outlets as well as local consumer preferences.

To help ensure a positive experience for U.S. sales missions, ATO offers the following suggestions:

Delegates: Nothing reflects better on U.S. trade relations than eager participants. Make sure to schedule time for delegates to recharge, re-hydrate, and relax.

Follow-ups: Unless delegates actively engage in immediate follow-ups to trade leads, Taiwan importers¡¦ interest will wane.  If U.S. companies are serious about developing this market, this should be fairly obvious. 

Presentations: When developing formal power-point presentations, advise visitors to develop region- or country-specific slides. These slides better engage foreign audiences and reflect the willingness of U.S. trade interests.

Product Samples: Arguably, these are the most important component of any trade show. Encourage delegates to ship product samples up to 1 month in advance with detailed instructions on handling. Life-sized, taste-test ready samples bring trade shows to life. 

Status: In order to schedule high-level government and industry meetings, it is helpful to arrange for a high-ranking U.S. official, senior manager, or industry leader accompany a group. 

Time limits: Due to an overwhelming response during previous trade missions, most delegates sought additional time to elaborate on products, accommodate importers¡¦ needs, and negotiate prices. Therefore, we recommend trade shows extend to an entire day instead of an afternoon.

Translated materials: Prior to travel, encourage visitors to translate business cards, promotional items, brochures, and product labels into Mandarin Chinese to better target this sophisticated market. 

Click here for photos from previous Agriculture Trade Office promotional activities and trade missions.