USGC past chairman Chip Councell signs the letter of intent with Taiwan.
Photo courtesy of USGC.
Photo courtesy of USGC.
The members of the goodwill mission also signed letters of intent to purchase soybeans and wheat. The biennial team is part of a long-term effort to strengthen economic ties between Taiwan and the United States.
“The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) has worked in Taiwan for more than four decades and has watched Taiwan grow into one of our largest customers,” said Deb Keller, USGC chairman. “The Goodwill Mission helps us maintain a healthy trading relationship with Taiwanese buyers and end-users by providing continued confidence in the U.S market.”
Prior to the official ceremonies, the corn representatives of the goodwill mission visited the farm of Chip Councell, USGC past chairman. Councell participated in the Sept. 13 signing ceremony on behalf of the Council and U.S. corn producers, with Keller in Southeast Asia for a council-sponsored regional trade summit.
The Taiwanese delegation also was honored in Washington at a reception with government officials and representatives of the agriculture industry, sponsored jointly by the council, U.S. Wheat Associates, the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), the North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) and the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA).
Following the events in D.C., corn members of the goodwill mission will travel to Indiana, Iowa and Missouri to sign letters of intent with those states’ governors, tour farms and elevators and meet with local producers, agriculture groups and policymakers.
The USGC said Taiwan is an important market for U.S. agricultural products, particularly U.S. grains. Taiwan is the fifth largest market for U.S. corn. Thus far in the 2016-17 marketing year (September-July) Taiwan has purchased 2.91 million tonnes (114.5 million bushels) of U.S. corn, the highest sales in the last seven marketing years. Taiwan also ranks as the third largest buyer of U.S. barley in 2016-17.
The goodwill mission has been organized by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) every other year since 1998 and allows Taiwanese participants to gain familiarity with U.S. coarse grains’ yield, production and quality. The goodwill mission also provides education on the advantages of U.S. coarse grains and co-products as well as reconfirms the commitment by the U.S. to serve as a long-term, reliable supplier for Taiwan.
