U.S. ITC names pork as major issue of concern, hog farmers oppose imports
Taiwan News
Date: 2017/07/26
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan will discuss all issues with a visiting United States
Hog farmers protesting in 2016. (By Central News Agency)
trade delegation, the Presidential Office said Wednesday, as hog farmers voiced their renewed opposition against the import of U.S. pork showing residues of ractopamine.
The comments came after the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) published its 2016 trade report Tuesday, mentioning the ractopamine ban as a major concern in relations with Taiwan.
The island allowed the import of U.S. beef containing traces of the leanness drug in 2012, which led to a steep drop in popularity for then-President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九). Pork is an even touchier subject because hog farming is a strong local sector of the Taiwanese economy. [FULL STORY]
