1. Taiwan’s President Vows Support for Mahi-Mahi Industry as U.S. Tariffs Bite

President Lai Ching-te pledged full government support for Taiwan’s mahi-mahi industry, a key seafood export to the United States, as producers face new tariff pressures. During a visit to Yilan’s Suao Township, Lai met with local fishers and industry groups alongside Agriculture Minister Chen Jun-ji. The agriculture ministry announced measures including loan interest subsidies, funding for cold-chain equipment, and incentives for domestic and overseas marketing to offset tariff impacts. Lai said the government has a duty to stand with farmers and fishers, and vowed to refine policies based on industry feedback. Applications for support are already open, according to the ministry.

2. Taiwan Seeks Public Input on Agricultural Basic Law Through Local Forums

Formulating an “Agricultural Basic Law” is a key policy priority under the Ministry of Agriculture’s strategy of “Smart, Resilient, and Sustainable Agriculture.” The law is intended to serve as a guiding framework for Taiwan’s long-term agricultural development. To gather broad-based input and ensure the bill reflects local perspectives, MoA will host a series of four grassroots forums across northern, eastern, southern, and central Taiwan from August through September. MOA emphasized that agriculture plays a vital role in Taiwan’s overall economy, encompassing multiple functions such as safeguarding food security, preserving the ecological environment, protecting land resources, sustaining agricultural traditions, and supporting social stability. Drafts of the Agricultural Basic Law were previously proposed in 2008 and 2011, but with evolving domestic and international challenges, Taiwan’s agricultural policies must now be updated to meet new realities.