The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association welcomed the announcement that U.S. beef exports will gain duty-free access to Taiwan under a new trade agreement. The agreement removes both tariff and non-tariff barriers, strengthening one of the most important and fastest growing markets for U.S. beef.
“Strong, science-based trade agreements are essential to adding value for U.S. cattle producers, and Taiwan has emerged as one of the strongest international markets for U.S. beef. Duty-free access improves competitiveness and provides long-term certainty for producers who depend on export markets to maximize the value of every animal,” said NCBA President Gene Copenhaver. “Foreign markets play a critical role in producer profitability with beef exports accounting for more than $415 per fed cattle processed in 2024. American cattle producers look forward to this expanded market access for years to come thanks to the work of President Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer.”
The Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) between the U.S. and Taiwan is a big victory for U.S. cattle producers and consumers in Taiwan. Taiwan is currently the sixth largest export market for U.S. beef, valued at $709 million in 2024. The landmark trade deal eliminates tariffs on U.S. beef and breaks down non-tariff barriers by reinforcing science-based standards consistent with the World Organization for Animal Health and Codex Alimentarius.
U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued this statement:
USMEF greatly appreciates USTR’s dedication to resolving Taiwan’s tariff and non-tariff barriers on U.S. red meat through the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade. Taiwan is the fifth largest market for U.S. beef, with exports valued at about $650 million, and the U.S. is the largest supplier of beef to Taiwan. But there is still potential for further growth with the increased access for all U.S. beef products, including those in high demand for yakiniku barbecue and trendy burger concepts. The elimination of tariffs on U.S. beef will definitely improve our competitiveness.
U.S. pork has been widely disadvantaged in Taiwan, and the EU and Canada dominate Taiwan’s pork imports. USMEF is optimistic that reducing both tariffs and non-tariff barriers will help enable larger U.S. pork exports to Taiwan, as USMEF remains focused on regaining Taiwanese consumer trust in U.S. pork. The agreement also includes important language clarifying access for U.S. bison, and eliminates tariffs on U.S. lamb.
USMEF thanks the Trump administration for the continued focus on breaking down barriers for U.S. agricultural exports and we look forward to the successful implementation of the Taiwan agreement.
As detailed in this USTR fact sheet, the agreement includes significant market access gains for U.S. red meat.
The National Milk Producers Federation, U.S. Dairy Export Council and the Consortium for Common Food Names commended the Thursday (Feb. 12, 2026) signing of a landmark trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan that will eliminate tariffs on all U.S. dairy products and preempt nontariff barriers that could otherwise limit the full potential of bilateral dairy trade.
Taiwan is the third-largest fluid milk destination for U.S. exports, and this agreement represents a transformative step forward for the growing market. By securing comprehensive tariff reductions for U.S. dairy products and incorporating meaningful commitments to ensure nontariff measures do not derail trade, the deal positions U.S. dairy suppliers to compete on a level playing field and expand their presence in one of Asia’s most dynamic food markets.
“Taiwan is a trusted partner and a high-value market for U.S. dairy,” Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC, said. “This agreement improves our competitiveness compared to other suppliers and provides assurances that nontariff barriers will not hinder the expansion of U.S. dairy exports. USDEC looks forward to continuing work with the Taiwanese government and the domestic industry to increase dairy consumption and grow the United States’ contribution to supplying Taiwan’s fluid milk and other dairy needs.”
The agreement builds on strong industry-to-industry collaboration between the United States and Taiwan. Last year, NMPF and USDEC representatives traveled to the market to advocate for dairy’s prioritization in the negotiations and deepen engagement with local stakeholders. While there, USDEC and NMPF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Dairy Association of Taiwan to strengthen market development and information exchange efforts.
“The agreement with Taiwan builds on the incredible momentum we’ve seen from the Administration in securing new trade agreements around the world,” Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF, said. “Each deal to reduce barriers and expand market access strengthens American dairy farms and the communities they support.”
“Taiwan is an important market for the United States, and the commitments to protect common names included in this agreement preempt third countries like the European Union from abusing intellectual property tools to monopolize generic terms and take away U.S. export opportunities,” Jaime Castaneda, executive director of CCFN, said. “We cannot thank Ambassador Greer, Ambassador Callahan and the entire negotiating team enough for prioritizing this issue and ensuring our exporters can continue using the terms known by consumers around the world.”
NMPF, USDEC and CCFN look forward to working closely with U.S. and Taiwanese officials to ensure swift implementation of the agreement and to fully realize its benefits for dairy producers, exporters, and consumers on both sides of the Pacific.
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