Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-27
By: Ko Lin, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen pointed out during the televised election debate on Sunday that the government needs to help local hog farms boost their level of the game in order to compete with U.S. pork imports.

Commenting on a question posed by the Apple Daily regarding if Tsai would allow pork containing ractopamine from the United States in exchange for Taiwan’s inclusion in the U.S.-led Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), Tsai said raising the nation’s competitiveness will help promote its bargaining chip when it comes to negotiating with the U.S. in the importation of agricultural produce.

“If elected, the new government pledges to use extremely high standards for examining the labeling of foreign pork at the home market,” she said.

The presidential candidate noted that locally produced pork products are not allowed to contain ractopamine, which is important to differentiate them from foreign products.   [FULL  STORY]