BOISE, IDAHO, U.S. — A delegation from the Taiwan Flour Mills Association (TFMA) will sign an agreement supporting U.S. wheat exports as part of its visit to Northern Idaho Sept. 10-13.

The deal is worth $544 million, according to the Idaho Department of Agriculture. With this deal TFMA  will import more than 70,000 tonnes (2.5 million bushels) of wheat every month to be distributed among all of the millers, the ag department said.
The delegation will visit a grain terminal, wheat farm, and grain elevator in the Lewiston area..

TFMA Delegation Head Shin-Yao Lin, Director General Andy Chin of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle, U.S., and Idaho Wheat Commission Chairman Joe Anderson will join Idaho Department of Agriculture Deputy Director Brian Oakey for the signing ceremony in Lewiston.

“Taiwan and Idaho enjoy a very close trade relationship. Last year, Taiwan was Idaho’s fourth-largest export market; Idaho exported more than $470 million to Taiwan in 2014,” Chin said.

“This visit is an opportunity to further expand business and cooperation between the Gem state and Taiwan going forward.”

Idaho Wheat Commission Chairman (IWC) Joe Anderson traveled to Taiwan last November as part of U.S. Wheat Associates Crop Quality conference where he met with TFMA.

“The Taiwan Flour Mills Association is a great friend to Idaho and an important customer for Idaho’s wheat industry,” said Anderson. “Roughly 50% of Idaho’s wheat crop is exported to foreign markets, and Taiwan is consistently one of Idaho’s top five export destinations.”

“Taiwan imports most of its wheat needs from the United States,” said Lin, .“Flour Mills and consumers in Taiwan have long enjoyed and appreciated the quality and consistency of Idaho wheat, in particular."

Export markets are critical to the success of Idaho wheat farms and a key piece of future prosperity and growth for all Idaho agriculture. The face-to-face visits are important in developing the relationships directly with international customers, the IWC said.

The U.S. wheat industry’s working relationship with Taiwan is nothing new. Their cooperation and friendship is nearly 50 years in the making.