Published Date: 2021-12-22
US Senator from
Iowa Chuck Grassley has thanked Taiwanese voters for rejecting a proposal to
reinstate restrictions on pork imports that would have affected US pork.
In January,
Taiwan’s ruling party lifted a ban on importing pork treated with the
leanness-enhancing additive ractopamine, much of which is produced in the US.
In a referendum last Saturday, voters were asked whether the government should
reinstate the ban. The measure failed to pass.
Had the measure
passed, it would have dealt a blow to the US-Taiwan trade relationship.
Grassley Tweeted
“Taiwanese people rejected [a] referendum that [would] [have] overturned
[President] Tsai’s move [to] allow imports of quality US pork into Taiwan.
[Thank you to the] Taiwanese [government] & [citizens] for your friendship.
I look [forward] to expanded trade.”
Meanwhile, US Iowa
Representative Ashley Hinson also Tweeted that Taiwan is a “partner in
democracy & continues to be a strong export market for Iowa pork
producers.”