Issue: 613   Date: 05/23/2002

The Agricultural Goodwill Mission from Taiwan visited 
St. Louis, Missouri on May 16, 2002

An agricultural goodwill mission from Taiwan (ROC) composed of 9 members of business representatives and government officials arrived in St. Louis, Missouri on May 16, 2002.  The main goal of the delegation is to extend the warm friendship and to intensify the willingness to purchase Missouri grains.  In the evening of May 16, the delegation signed a joint communiqué for agricultural trade proceeding next two years with the American Soybean Association and National Corn Growers Association.  It also signed two contracts with Cargill Inc. and Bunge Corporation for purchasing big amount of soybeans and corn.  Under the pact, the Taiwanese associations agreed to buy about 125 million bushels of U.S. soybeans and 378 million bushels of corn, barley and sorghum from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2003.  The total purchase worth 1.6 billion U.S. dollars.

Lowell Mohler, director of the Missouri department of agricultural, and Elizabeth Chu, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kansas City, witnessed the signing at the Mandarin House restaurant in St. Louis.  "The joint communiqué between Taiwan and representatives of the nation’s corn and soybean farmers is important to the continued vitality of U.S. agriculture," Director Mohler said.  "Taiwan’s trade mission here reinforces the positive ties we have with such an important and profitable market for two of Missouri’s major commodities-corn and soybeans."  

"Taiwan is only one sixth of the size of Missouri but is the 5^th import country for U.S. grains, and Taiwan imported U.S. $78.20 million dollars worth goods from Missouri in 2001."  Director General Chu said. "The signing of the pact will ensure the purchase of U.S. grains from Taiwan.  It will definitely benefit the Missouri farmers and economy."  

The head of the delegation, Dr. Paul Sun, expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome by the Missouri State Government and all the other associations.  He predicted that there will be more purchase of U.S. agricultural products from Taiwan in the future because both sides have been working together happily and satisfactorily for the past pleasant experience.