United States-Beef push for Taiwan.

UNITED STATES-NEW PUSH FOR BEEF TO TAIWAN.

Director of the American Institute in Taiwan Stephen Young has called on Taiwan to relax its ban on the import of certain US beef products. Young was speaking recently at a charity event in Taipei.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou, on Friday said that any move that would benefit US-Taiwan relations would have the ministry’s support. But he also said that other branches of the government would have to give their assessment on the safety of US beef.

"Both sides have been discussing this matter for a long time and on our side, we are examining the feasibility of relaxing the ban. But there are many factors to be considered and we will have to take into account what the Council of Agriculture and Department of Health have to say on the matter," said Ou.

Three years ago Taiwan lifted a ban on boneless beef from the United States. The ban was prompted by concerns over BSE or mad cow disease. In 2008 Taiwan imported more beef from the United States than from any other country. A ban on beef on the bone and other beef products remains in place however..

The American Institute in Taiwan functions as the US representative office in Taiwan in the absence of official diplomatic ties.