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The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced the signing of the U.S.–Taiwan Agreement on Reciprocal Trade. Potato industry leaders call this a strong trade win that opens the door for expanded export opportunities and improved long-term market stability for the U.S. potato industry.
The agreement calls for Taiwan to eliminate tariffs on all major U.S. potato product categories upon implementation. This includes frozen fries, dehydrated potatoes, fresh potatoes and processed products. This is expected to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. potatoes in Taiwan’s market and support expanded demand for processed and fresh product exports.
Beyond tariffs, the agreement includes provisions related to Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). Under the agreement, Taiwan will accept U.S. MRL standards – or defer to Codex international standards – where Taiwan standards are not established. In the event of an MRL violation, enforcement actions will target the specific supplier responsible rather than suspending access for the entire commodity sector.
The agreement now moves to the Taiwan legislature for approval, alongside a final technical review process in the U.S.