U.S., Taiwan expand organic export opportunities

The American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States have signed and exchanged letters on behalf of the United States and Taiwan inaugurating a new organic equivalence arrangement, effective May 30, 2020, allowing organic products certified in the United States or Taiwan to be sold as organic in either market.

The arrangement covers products certified to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic regulations or Taiwan organic regulations that are grown or produced in the United States or Taiwan or have their final processing or packaging in the United States or Taiwan.

“This equivalence arrangement streamlines trade in certified organic goods with Taiwan, a key international partner in the organic market sector,” said Greg Ibach, under secretary for the USDA. It eliminates the need for organic operators to have separate organic certification to the United States and Taiwan standards, which avoids a double set of fees, inspections, and paperwork.

Equivalence paves the way for the expansion of existing fresh fruit, vegetable, and processed food trade and provides new market access opportunities for organic livestock and other products. The arrangement also allows U.S.-based organic food processors to source Taiwan certified organic ingredients, increasing the range of organic products available to consumers.

Taiwan is the fifth-largest export market for U.S. organic products, with sales approaching $92 million in 2019 and the market size is expected to grow by almost 50% over the next five years, based on Organic Trade Association and USDA analyses. Expanding the trade arrangement provides U.S. organic farmers and processors continued access to this market.

The United States currently maintains organic equivalence arrangements with Canada, the European Union, Japan, Korea, and Switzerland.