Taiwan, U.S. sign organic equivalency agreement

Organic products from Taiwan and the U.S.  can now be sold as organic in either market through a new agreement that establishes the equivalency of organic standards.

The American Institute of Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. recently signed the equivalence agreement, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture news release.

“This equivalence arrangement streamlines trade in certified organic goods with Taiwan, a key international partner in the organic market sector,” USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach said in the release. “This arrangement protects and increases access for American organic farmers, ranchers, and businesses to the fifth largest U.S. export market for USDA certified organic products.”

Through the agreement, there is no need for organic producers to have separate certifications to ship to the U.S. or Taiwan, which also avoids added fees, inspections and paperwork, according to the release.

The agreement will pave the way for expanding fruit and vegetable trade between the U.S. and Taiwan, according to the release.
U.S. organic producers sold nearly $92 million in organic products to Taiwan in 2019, a number that is expected to grow by almost 50% in the next five years, according to Organic Trade Association and USDA research.

The U.S. has other similar equivalency agreements with Canada, the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland.

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