1. President Lai Announces NT$30 Billion Agricultural Stabilization Fund to Leverage U.S. Trade Pact

Taiwan on Feb. 13 (Taipei time) signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the United States. President Lai Ching-te announced a NT$30 billion Agricultural Stabilization Fund to boost export competitiveness, expand global markets and safeguard farmers’ interests. The fund will target four priorities — farmer support, competitive advantage, export expansion and industry resilience — while assisting sectors potentially affected by the pact. Under the agreement, reciprocal tariffs are set at 15% without stacking. Taiwan secured zero-tariff treatment for 261 agricultural exports to the U.S., including Phalaenopsis orchids, tea, coffee, guava and tapioca starch, covering 42.1% of export value and saving an estimated US$219 million in duties. Taiwanese orchids, for example, will enjoy a zero tariff rate, compared with 15% for the Netherlands. Taiwan will lower tariffs on selected U.S. goods with minimal domestic production, such as wheat and cod. For products where Taiwan holds strong market share — including pork and citrus — U.S. imports are expected to compete mainly with other foreign suppliers. The Ministry of Agriculture said detailed subsidy guidelines for the fund will be announced soon.
 

2. MOA Refutes Claim of US$100 Billion U.S. Farm Purchase Pledge

The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) on Feb. 13 rejected media claims that a Taiwan delegation pledged to purchase over US$100 billion in U.S. agricultural goods to support tariff talks, calling the figure “far from the facts.” It said the U.S. agricultural mission, organized biennially by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1998, is a long-standing program, with last year marking its 15th visit. The delegation consisted of domestic industry associations and agribusinesses, and any purchase volumes were proposed by private firms based on projected four-year demand and formalized through letters of intent. The government did not fund the purchases. The planned imports — soybeans, feed corn, wheat and beef — are products Taiwan relies heavily on, with import dependence exceeding 95% for each. The MOA stressed that the letters of intent reflect private-sector cooperation and were not part of the Taiwan-U.S. Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, adding that the pact is expected to further strengthen bilateral agricultural trade and food security ties.