Newsletter:
Taiwan seeks to limit fallout from US beef ban - Asia - Business - Taiwan - commerce - USA

Taiwan seeks to limit fallout from US beef ban

TAIPEI — Taiwan will send a government delegation to the United States as it seeks to limit the fallout from controversial parliamentary plans to resume a ban on some US beef imports, a top official said Wednesday.

AFP | Published: 12/30/2009 05:58

The announcement came after the island's parliament on Tuesday agreed to amend a law on food health to ban imports of US cow organs, minced beef and other high-risk items such as spines and eyes.

"We will send a delegation to the United States soon in order to minimise the damage and prevent any serious impact on Taiwan-US ties," presidential spokesman Wang Yu-chi told reporters.

Washington had expressed dismay at Tuesday's announcement, while Taiwan's foreign minister Timothy Yang warned it could affect planned trade talks with the United States.

The legislators' decision was to be finalised next week in a vote that would also determine whether beef-on-the-bone should be banned as well.

The move will partially overturn a decision by the health department in October to allow imports of US beef-on-the-bone and cow organs, which met with a public outcry.

Source

Add your comment
  Anonymous comment
Nickname:
Password:
  Remember me on this computer

Title:
Send me by email any answer to my comment
Send me by email every new comment to this article