USDA leads trade mission to Taiwan to enhance agricultural exports

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is set to embark on a significant trade mission to Taipei, Taiwan, from September 25 through September 27, 2025. This initiative aims to strengthen trade connections for American companies, particularly in the agriculture sector. In total, 39 agribusiness representatives and trade organizations, alongside officials from the agriculture departments of Idaho, Kansas, and Montana, will participate in this mission. The USDA acknowledges Taiwan's robust economic growth and the demand for high-quality American food products, highlighting the importance of this mission. Taiwan has emerged as a crucial market for U.S. agricultural exports, ranking as the eighth largest for American agricultural goods. The USDA projects a growth of approximately 16% in exports from 2019 to 2024, reflecting an increasing demand and promising trade opportunities. In 2024, the U.S. enjoyed a notable agriculture trade surplus of $3.1 billion with Taiwan, which accounted for 25% of the nation's import market. Notably, fresh fruits, pet food, poultry, and dairy products comprise over half of the agricultural exports sent to Taiwan, amounting to more than $2 billion from a total of $3.8 billion in agricultural exports. Among the most significant products exported are beef and soybeans; in 2024, the U.S. exported $709.6 million worth of beef and beef products, showcasing an impressive 122% growth over the last decade. Meanwhile, soybean exports reached $624.14 million, demonstrating an 8% increase. This trade mission will facilitate direct meetings between American exporters and Taiwanese buyers, fostering critical partnerships that will likely enhance trade relations. USDA staff will support these efforts, and past missions to markets like Hong Kong, Thailand, Peru, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic have resulted in projected yearly sales of $64 million, indicating the mission's potential impact. In summary, this trade mission to Taiwan is a strategic move by the USDA to capitalize on burgeoning trade opportunities and strengthen relationships with key buyers in a dynamic market. The growth in U.S. agricultural exports to Taiwan underscores the ongoing commitment to expanding trade connections and fulfilling the demands of an evolving economic landscape.