TAIPEI: The government will try to reopen talks with Washington on issues related to beef imports following the passage of a law amendment that will effectively bar certain beef products from the United States, "Premier" Wu Den-yih said yesterday.

Wu explained that renegotiations are necessary now that a small part of the Taiwan-US beef trade protocol signed in October has become inapplicable.

According to Wu, the talks can be held immediately if Taiwan's request is accepted by the US government. Otherwise, they will have to wait until the protocol has been in force for 180 days, when consultations on the issue will become compulsory.

He said the government will do its utmost to try to mend relations with the United States, which has maintained a firm and long-standing friendship and shares many common interests with Taiwan.

Wu expressed confidence that Washington will not allow the controversy over the ban on ground beef and beef offal, which account for only 2 percent of all US beef imports in terms of value, to affect other more important areas of bilateral ties.

The US government and meat industry expressed disappointment yesterday over Taiwan's decision to restore a partial ban on US beef imports and use American beef producers as a "political football."

The US State Department, US Trade Representative Office (USTR), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), the US Meat Export Federation (MEF) and the American Meat Institute (AMI) all expressed disappointment over the legislature's decision to amend the Act Governing Food Sanitation.

Taiwan and the United States signed a protocol in October to allow the entry of bone-in beef and other beef products, including ground beef and offal, that had previously been banned owing to concern over cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease in US beef.

The amendment, which cleared the legislature on Tuesday, effectively bars US ground beef, beef offal and other beef parts such as the skull, eyes and intestines from access to Taiwan's market.

Responding to a reporter's question, Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of the Bureau of Public Affairs at the US State Department, said in a briefing yesterday that the US was "very disappointed" with Taiwan's decision to ban certain cuts of US beef in violation of the bilateral agreement, but added that the US remains committed to further developing its broad-ranging and positive relationship with the people of Taiwan.

In a joint statement, the USTR and USDA reiterated that Taiwan's decision does not "have a basis in science and constitutes a unilateral violation of a bilateral agreement."

"The decision by Taiwan authorities to place domestic politics over science raises serious concerns," the joint statement said.

NCBA chief economist Gregg Doud also attacked the politicization of the issue.

"This is a purely domestic political issue in Taiwan. US beef producers are sick and tired of being used as a political football," Doud said.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 01/07/2010 page2)