Taiwan-U.S. agricultural cooperation can be traced back to the 1950s when the U.S. federal government participated in the Sino-American Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction in accordance with the Sino-U.S. Economic Cooperation Agreement. This professional organization consisted of representatives from the Republic of China and the United States and promoted the rural reconstruction movement, laying the foundation for Taiwan's agricultural development via the economic, social, and technological coordination plans.
Presently, the cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. has gradually been expanded, covering areas including agricultural science and technology, fisheries management, organic equivalency, and inspection and quarantine technology exchange. Through meetings and reciprocal visits, both sides exchange views on mutual concerns, share information, and discuss collaboration in international fora. On these grounds, Also, scientists at various agricultural research institutions have the opportunity to engage in substantive dialogue with the heads of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) national-level research programs and to view current scientific research capabilities.
In the aspect of agricultural trade, the United States has long been Taiwan’s most important supplier of agricultural products. In 2022, Taiwan was the seventh-largest overseas market of U.S. agricultural products. Among the top ten trading partners of the U.S., Taiwan was the fourth-largest consumer of U.S. agricultural products on a per capita basis. As for Taiwan’s agricultural exportation to the U.S. in 2022, the U.S. was the largest market for Taiwan’s agricultural exports and the value was about US$910 million. Our main exports to the U.S. include orchids, tilapia, and processed food.
