Taiwan has agreed to purchase US$10 billion worth of U.S. agricultural products over the next four years in exchange for gaining access to the U.S. market for its pineapples, the Presidential Office said during ongoing tariff negotiations with Washington.
President William Lai announced the deal at a meeting with an agricultural delegation led by U.S. Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg. According to the Presidential Office, imports will include soybeans, corn, wheat, and beef. The agreement is expected to support Taiwanese agriculture by improving animal feed quality and strengthening food security.
A Taiwanese agricultural delegation recently visited several U.S. farming states, including South Dakota. Lai said the exchange of visits signaled Taiwan's commitment to the bilateral partnership. Taiwan is currently the seventh-largest trade partner of the U.S. and the seventh-largest buyer of its agricultural exports.
Lai also highlighted Taiwan's strategic role in supply chain diversification and said the country seeks to enhance collaboration with the U.S. to introduce technology into agriculture and food supply resilience.
Lindberg expressed gratitude to Taiwanese consumers, noting they purchase up to 25 percent of their foodstuffs from U.S. farmers. He said the U.S. is committed to contributing to Taiwan's food and energy supply.
Separately, Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih said officials expect U.S. approval for imports of Taiwanese pineapples before the next harvest in March 2026. Most of the technical and legal requirements for market entry have already been addressed since Taiwan began preparations in September 2024.
Taiwan began the process to export pineapples to the U.S. after China banned imports in 2021. Members of the U.S. delegation who inspected Taiwanese orchards were reportedly satisfied with sanitation standards.
Chen said Taiwanese pineapples compare favorably in sweetness and juiciness with fruit from Central and South America currently sold in the U.S. market. The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine noted that most certified Taiwanese cultivars are expected to be exempt from standard chemical and non-chemical treatments usually applied to imported fruit. Final quarantine procedures are still under discussion.
Source: Taipei Times