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(L to
R) Clover Chang, Shih-Yin Wneg, David Chang, John
Henseley, Dr. Bao-Ji Chen, Shih-Che Lu, Ying-Kai Chen
and Chu-Cheng Kang
Agricultural Missions and Exchanges between Missouri and Taiwan
On August 16, the St. Louis area was visited by the U.S. Grains Council's High Starch Corn Survey Team. This group included representatives of some of the biggest agribusinesses in Taiwan and came to Missouri to learn more about specialty varieties of corn. While here, the group saw barges being loaded at Cargill's river terminal in East St. Louis, visited a farm and seed test plots in St. Charles County, and toured Monsanto's research facilities in Chesterfield.
This recent visit is the latest of an ongoing series of agricultural missions and exchanges between Missouri and Taiwan.
Since 1990, the State of Missouri has maintained a Trade Office in the CETRA Building in Taipei. This office is funded through the Missouri Department of Agriculture and
focuses on maintaining and increasing Missouri's exports of agricultural products to Taiwan. (Missouri companies that export other types of products also utilize the services of the Trade Office in Taipei, but it is in the area of agriculture that Taiwan is truly a powerhouse in its purchases of U.S. products.)
The types of products that Taiwan has historically imported from the U.S. are also the same commodities that make up most of Missouri's agricultural exports. This is illustrated by the following figures provided by the USDA:
Total Imports of U.S. Agricultural Products: U.S. $2.1 billion (CY 2001)
Taiwan ranks 6th in the world in total purchases of U.S. ag products. On a per capita basis, Taiwan is second only to Canada as a customer of U.S. agriculture.
U.S. Soybeans: U.S. $384 million (CY 2001)
Taiwan ranks 5th as a customer for U.S. soybeans. By comparison, Missouri's exports of soybeans and soybean products totaled U.S. $369 million (FY 2000-2001). The U.S. has about 85% share of Taiwan's soybean imports.
U.S. Coarse Grains: U.S. $471 million (CY 2001)
Taiwan ranks 3rd as a customer for U.S. coarse grains. By comparison, Missouri's exports of coarse grains and products thereof totaled U.S. $178 million (FY 2000-2001).
U.S. Wheat: U.S. $160 million (CY 2001)
Taiwan ranks 7th as a customer for U.S. wheat. By comparison, Missouri's exports of wheat and wheat products totaled U.S. $92 million (FY 2000-2001).
With this compatibility of interests, then it is only natural that Missouri and Taiwan have maintained a close relationship and have ongoing activities such as trade missions. Adding to the interest for customers from Taiwan is the fact that the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, and agribusinesses such as Monsanto, and Bunge North America all have their headquarters in St. Louis.
In Kansas City, major agricultural exporters such as Farmland, Bartlett & Company, and Debruce Grain are found, as well as the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, which is involved in many of the ongoing activities between Missouri and Taiwan.
In addition to the High Starch Corn Survey Team, recent ag-related exchanges between Missouri and Taiwan include:
* Taiwan Agricultural Goodwill Missions that visited Missouri in September 1998 and May 2002. These missions have been organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kansas City.
* The Quality Choice Premium Tofu Soybean Mission to Taiwan, which took place in early September of last year. This mission was sponsored by the Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Department of Agriculture, and companies that export the premium food-grade soybeans.
* Numerous buyers' missions to Missouri by companies from Taiwan that are seeking specific agricultural products such as food-grade soybeans, hardwood lumber, food ingredients, and even rice.
* Numerous visits to Taiwan by individual Missouri companies, seeking to supply the full range of our agricultural products.
* An upcoming Agricultural Trade Mission to Taiwan in September, led by the Director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
Agriculture everywhere is in transition, farmers in the U.S. Midwest are now competing against their counterparts in places like Brazil, Argentina, and Australia. Farmers in Taiwan are faced with higher costs for land and labor, increased environmental restrictions regarding water use and pollution, and stiff competition now that WTO provisions are taking effect.
In spite of this, the connection between Missouri and Taiwan remains strong. Companies based in Taiwan are the leading investors in agribusiness joint ventures in the PRC, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and many other countries.
Thus, while the actual production of pigs or chickens may be shifting to other locations, Taiwan retains its importance in global agribusiness, and as a customer for U.S. products such as grain and soybeans.
 
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