1. U.S. Section 301 Tariff Exemptions Provide Further Boost to Taiwan’s Agricultural Exports

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced on July 23 (U.S. Eastern Time) the final action under its Section 301 investigation. Taiwan was placed in the same preferential tariff category as the European Union, receiving a 10% tariff rate that is not cumulative with Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) duties, a more favorable treatment than several major trading partners. According to Taiwan’s Executive Yuan U.S.-Taiwan Economic and Trade Task Force, 2,231 Taiwanese products, including 322 agricultural and 1,909 industrial products, are exempt from the new Section 301 tariffs and will only be subject to MFN duties. Among them, 118 items are exclusive to Taiwan, including key agricultural exports such as Phalaenopsis orchids and anthuriums, strengthening Taiwan’s competitiveness in the U.S. market. The exempted agricultural products also include tea, tapioca starch, coffee, pineapple cakes, taro, guava, fruit juices, jams, pineapples, mangoes and ornamental frogs. The U.S. measures further exclude products already covered by or under investigation pursuant to Section 232. A detailed list of Taiwan’s exempted products will be released by the Executive Yuan after further review.

2. Promoting Marine Conservation and Sustainable Fisheries, Fisheries Agency Holds "Crab Conservation Day"

The Fisheries Agency, together with the Taiwan Fisheries and Marine Conservation Foundation and Mega International Commercial Bank, held its annual "Crab Conservation Day" in Wanli, one of northern Taiwan's major crab fishing grounds. The event promoted the release of berried female crabs and featured interactive activities on sustainable seafood, marine conservation and plastic reduction to raise public awareness of sustainable fisheries. Vice Minister of Agriculture Huang Chao-chin said that last year's release program helped return an estimated 20 million to 200 million juvenile crabs to the ocean, contributing to resource recovery. He also encouraged responsible fishing by protecting undersized and berried female crabs. With the crab harvest season beginning in August, the public is invited to enjoy Wanli Crab while supporting sustainable fisheries. The event also included the release of berried female crabs, stage performances and family-friendly activities, encouraging the public to put marine conservation and sustainable consumption into practice.