USMEF Charity Event in Taiwan Showcases U.S. Beef, Attracts Top Health Officials...
To celebrate the end of the Chinese New Year holiday, a U.S. beef charity dinner was held in Taipei on Sunday, Feb. 8. The event was hosted by USMEF with funding support from the beef checkoff program. The guests, including 75 underprivileged Taiwanese children, were treated to a fine dining experience featuring U.S. ribeye steaks, and a program of traditional Chinese song and dance. Held at the Taipei Regent Hotel's open-air indoor atrium, the event attracted a throng of public observers and numerous television and print media, as well as dozens of local industry leaders and government officials.
American Institute of Taiwan Director Stephen Young, the top U.S. official in the territory, opened the event by noting the appropriateness of beginning the Year of the Ox with a delicious U.S. beef meal. He also expressed hope that Taiwan would soon expand access for U.S. beef to include bone-in cuts and other beef products. (Currently, Taiwan only allows boneless muscle cuts of U.S. beef from cattle less than 30 months of age.) Young referenced a just-published Department of Health independent risk assessment as a positive sign that Taiwan is using sound science to assess the safety of U.S. beef. The risk assessment, currently being translated, examines four categories of U.S. beef products: boneless and bone-in beef beef from all ages of animals, beef offal and processed beef products.
Several prominent political leaders and influencers from Taiwan were also in attendance, including Minister of Health Yeh Ching-chuan and the vice president of the Legislative Yuan, Tseng Yung-Chuan. In his remarks, Yeh said there is no specific timeline for the expansion of U.S. beef imports, citing the need to complete further assessments. However, he commented that all beef in the Taiwan market is safe and that Taiwanese authorities and U.S. officials are collaborating closely on this issue. Other local leaders praised the quality of U.S. beef and thanked USMEF for hosting the event. These speakers included Peng Ming-Tsung, the 91-year-old chairman of the Taiwan Fund of Children and Families, the charity that helped organize the day’s participants.
According to year-end export results, the United States became the largest beef supplier in Taiwan in 2008 in terms of value, accounting for a 38 percent share. Following Australia, the United States is now the second-largest supplier of beef to Taiwan on a volume basis, overtaking New Zealand. In total, Taiwan imported 27,260 metric tons (60 million pounds) of U.S. beef in 2008, valued at $127.6 million. This represents an all-time record for the market, and a 19 percent increase in value and a 21 percent increase in volume over 2007.
Also of great significance is the high share of Taiwan’s chilled beef market the United States has recaptured over the past year. U.S. chilled beef exports of 6,789 metric tons (nearly 15 million pounds) accounted for 75 percent of the country’s total chilled beef trade.
"USMEF’s marketing and promotion emphasis on merchandising higher valued chilled cuts has clearly paid off, as the U.S. has now retaken its prominent position in the chilled beef market,” said USMEF Taiwan Director Davis Wu.
“U.S. beef has achieved remarkable success in Taiwan, despite the continued restrictions on bone-in cuts and variety meats,” says USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. “By continuing to work constructively with government officials toward full market access, we can build a very bright future in Taiwan for a wide range of U.S. beef cuts and beef products.”
AgTC: Get the Info on the Clean Truck Fee
Next week, the new $70/FEU fee is being imposed at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Port of Los Angeles and PortCheck are hosting a Clean Truck Fee program live webcast for Shipping Lines and Cargo Owners on Thursday, February 12, 2009.
Click here for access details and further information. The meeting will focus on what is required by the cargo owners in order to move cargo from the Port of Los Angeles terminals beginning Feb, 18.
To celebrate the end of the Chinese New Year holiday, a U.S. beef charity dinner was held in Taipei on Sunday, Feb. 8. The event was hosted by USMEF with funding support from the beef checkoff program. The guests, including 75 underprivileged Taiwanese children, were treated to a fine dining experience featuring U.S. ribeye steaks, and a program of traditional Chinese song and dance. Held at the Taipei Regent Hotel's open-air indoor atrium, the event attracted a throng of public observers and numerous television and print media, as well as dozens of local industry leaders and government officials.
American Institute of Taiwan Director Stephen Young, the top U.S. official in the territory, opened the event by noting the appropriateness of beginning the Year of the Ox with a delicious U.S. beef meal. He also expressed hope that Taiwan would soon expand access for U.S. beef to include bone-in cuts and other beef products. (Currently, Taiwan only allows boneless muscle cuts of U.S. beef from cattle less than 30 months of age.) Young referenced a just-published Department of Health independent risk assessment as a positive sign that Taiwan is using sound science to assess the safety of U.S. beef. The risk assessment, currently being translated, examines four categories of U.S. beef products: boneless and bone-in beef beef from all ages of animals, beef offal and processed beef products.
Several prominent political leaders and influencers from Taiwan were also in attendance, including Minister of Health Yeh Ching-chuan and the vice president of the Legislative Yuan, Tseng Yung-Chuan. In his remarks, Yeh said there is no specific timeline for the expansion of U.S. beef imports, citing the need to complete further assessments. However, he commented that all beef in the Taiwan market is safe and that Taiwanese authorities and U.S. officials are collaborating closely on this issue. Other local leaders praised the quality of U.S. beef and thanked USMEF for hosting the event. These speakers included Peng Ming-Tsung, the 91-year-old chairman of the Taiwan Fund of Children and Families, the charity that helped organize the day’s participants.
According to year-end export results, the United States became the largest beef supplier in Taiwan in 2008 in terms of value, accounting for a 38 percent share. Following Australia, the United States is now the second-largest supplier of beef to Taiwan on a volume basis, overtaking New Zealand. In total, Taiwan imported 27,260 metric tons (60 million pounds) of U.S. beef in 2008, valued at $127.6 million. This represents an all-time record for the market, and a 19 percent increase in value and a 21 percent increase in volume over 2007.
Also of great significance is the high share of Taiwan’s chilled beef market the United States has recaptured over the past year. U.S. chilled beef exports of 6,789 metric tons (nearly 15 million pounds) accounted for 75 percent of the country’s total chilled beef trade.
"USMEF’s marketing and promotion emphasis on merchandising higher valued chilled cuts has clearly paid off, as the U.S. has now retaken its prominent position in the chilled beef market,” said USMEF Taiwan Director Davis Wu.
“U.S. beef has achieved remarkable success in Taiwan, despite the continued restrictions on bone-in cuts and variety meats,” says USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. “By continuing to work constructively with government officials toward full market access, we can build a very bright future in Taiwan for a wide range of U.S. beef cuts and beef products.”
AgTC: Get the Info on the Clean Truck Fee
Next week, the new $70/FEU fee is being imposed at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Port of Los Angeles and PortCheck are hosting a Clean Truck Fee program live webcast for Shipping Lines and Cargo Owners on Thursday, February 12, 2009.
Click here for access details and further information. The meeting will focus on what is required by the cargo owners in order to move cargo from the Port of Los Angeles terminals beginning Feb, 18.