File photo of the Raohe Night Market in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital. (Fazon1/iStock/Getty Images)

Taiwan formally opens to OTM Canadian beef

BSE-era restriction now lifted

Taiwan has officially lifted its import ban on Canadian beef and beef products from animals over 30 months of age (OTMs). Canada’s Trade Minister Mary Ng and Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced the move Friday, saying Taiwan’s decision “will offer an opportunity to expand Canadian beef exports to Taiwan and diversify export markets in the […] Read more

Canada Beef at a 2022 hotel promotion with Marriott Hotel Kaohsiung in Taiwan. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef)

Taiwan pledges full access for Canadian beef

Market to reopen in 'a couple weeks,' minister says

Canadian beef exporters can expect to regain full market access to Taiwan within the next couple of weeks, Canada’s international trade minister said Thursday. Posting on Twitter Thursday from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade ministers’ meeting in Detroit, Mary Ng said Taiwanese officials have confirmed the decision, which she hailed as “great news […] Read more



File photo of containers at a seaport in Jakarta. (Leolintang/iStock/Getty Images)

APEC ministers call for curbs on farm, fuel, fishing subsidies

Washington/Wellington | Reuters — Pacific Rim trade and foreign ministers on Tuesday pledged to sustain the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic while pursuing talks to curb subsidies for fisheries and agriculture at a forthcoming World Trade Organization meeting. The ministers from the 21 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) countries said in a communique issued after […] Read more


File photo of a pineapple field in Taiwan. (Bing-Jhen Hong/iStock/Getty Images)

Taiwan applies to join Pacific trade pact week after China

Taipei | Reuters — Taiwan has formally applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the government said Wednesday, less than a week after China said it too had submitted an application. Taiwan has been angling to join the grouping for a while and had already been discussing the issue informally […] Read more

Beef is on display at a Walmart in Beijing on Sept. 23, 2019. (File photo: Reuters/Tingshu Wang)

China applies to join Trans-Pacific trade pact

Second-biggest economy seeks to add to economic clout

Updated, Sept. 17 — Beijing | Reuters — Japan said it would have to determine if China meets the “extremely high standards” of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) after the world’s second-biggest economy formally applied to join. Commerce Minister Wang Wentao submitted China’s application to join the free trade agreement in […] Read more


CBOT December 2020 corn with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, soy rise on export hopes

Wheat futures dip on profit taking

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Board of Trade corn and soybean futures rose on Wednesday, as concerns about dry conditions in key global production areas of South America boosted export prospects for both U.S. commodities. Strength in the cash market also supported gains in corn and soybean futures, traders said. CBOT soft red winter wheat […] Read more



A view from the steps of Memorial Hall in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei. (CIA.gov)

Taiwan again accepting Canadian UTM beef

One of the top international importers of Canadian beef is back in the market after closing its ports to the product last year. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland on Friday announced Taiwan will again accept beef from Canadian cattle under 30 months of age (UTMs), effective immediately. Taiwan had pulled the […] Read more