AGRICULTURAL AFFAIRS SECTION (AGR)
The Agricultural Affairs Section represents U.S. agricultural interests on Taiwan with the goal of increasing Taiwan's agricultural imports from the United States. The section's responsibilities are to:
- Analyze and report on Taiwan's agricultural production, demand for agricultural commodities and products, market opportunities, and the nature of competition from other suppliers;
- Research and propose methods to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers on U.S. agricultural exports to Taiwan; and
- Advise and support USDA and the private U.S. agricultural sector regarding market conditions, market development strategies, and the evaluation of market development activities and campaigns.
AGRICULTURAL TRADE OFFICE (ATO)
The Agricultural Trade Office's major focus is providing marketing assistance to U.S. companies and associations interested in exporting food and agricultural products to Taiwan. The ATO oversees and supports the activities of more than forty agricultural market development cooperators of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, five of which maintain offices with market directors on Taiwan; the American Soybean Association, the U.S. Feed Grains Council, the U.S. Wheat Associates, the U.S. Meat Export Association, and the National Forests and Paper Association. In addition, the ATO assists local Taiwan importers in locating reliable U.S. suppliers though the computerized trade leads service and the resources of the ATO library. Finally, to match exporters' and importers' interests, the ATO sponsors food shows and other promotional activities throughout the year.
ATO Presentation (pdf version) November 2006 presentation by ATO Director Keith Schneller to Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE (APHIS)
APHIS works to safeguard American agriculture by keeping destructive foreign pests and diseases out of the United States. Should an exotic disease threaten U.S. borders, it's APHIS' role to combat the threat and prevent an outbreak. By ensuring the health and well-being of animals and plants throughout the United States, APHIS helps improve agricultural productivity and contributes to the national economy and the public health.
Growing agricultural trade between the United States and Taiwan has created a role for APHIS ensuring that new trade opportunities are realized and that existing trade between the two economies flows smoothly. As APHIS is also delegated as the primary negotiator for Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) related trade issues for the United States, the APHIS Office maintains technical working relationships with our Taiwan Authority counterparts to resolve SPS issues whenever they arise. This relationship contributes to maintaining the success of agricultural trade related commercial activities between the two economies, helping ensure they thrive. As a principle role of APHIS is to make sure the United States and our trading partners adhere to the SPS rules set forth by the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as the other relevant international standards setting organizations, APHIS' role will continue to increase as the United States and Taiwan continue to expand their current trade relationships and establish new partnerships into the foreseeable future.
