Kansas Gov: Taiwan To Ease US Beef Restrictions

JOHN MILBURN

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson said Wednesday that he has been assured Taiwan will soon ease restrictions on imports of U.S. beef.

Parkinson met in Taiwan last week with President Ma Ying-jeou during a trade mission to the island nation. Parkinson said Ma indicated Taiwan would soon begin accepting shipments of U.S. beef, although no timetable was given.

The governor, speaking to reporters about his recent trade mission, said there had been considerable effort at all levels of government to reopen beef markets in Taiwan, as well as other nations in Southeast Asia.

"President Ma indicated that the input we provided was helpful, that he's headed toward a policy that will lift the ban," the governor said. "That would be a terrific benefit to the livestock industry, not just in Kansas, but across the United States."

Scarlett Hagins, spokeswoman for the Kansas Livestock Association, said Taiwan purchased $128 million in beef products from the United States in 2008.

"It would be encouraging news to the beef industry if we could get more beef into Taiwan," Hagins said. "If we could grow that market, it would be great."