Taiwan remains on U.S. annual report on foreign trade barriers

Taipei, April 1 (CNA) Taiwan remains on the latest U.S. report on foreign trade barriers, released Monday by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), just two days before President Donald Trump is set to announce reciprocal tariffs.

The section of the report on Taiwan, which remained largely similar to the 2024 version, raised concerns over barriers to imports of meat and automobiles and raised questions over copyright issues.

Given the report's timing, it could put added pressure on Taiwan, as well as other listed countries, as the USTR said in a statement that the findings "underscore President Trump's America First trade policy and [his] 2025 trade policy agenda."

Though not yet confirmed, Taiwan is expected to be among the main targets of upcoming U.S. reciprocal tariffs, referred to as the "dirty 15" by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Other potential members include Japan, the European Union, and China.

The report, submitted to Trump and the U.S. Congress, noted that despite a 2009 protocol reopening Taiwan's market to U.S. beef, Taipei continues to impose barriers on U.S. beef and beef byproducts.

Taiwan detected a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in 2003 and subsequently banned U.S. beef, though the 2009 protocol later reopened the market.

The USTR report said that some U.S. beef offal products, though permitted under the protocol, remain subject to port-of-entry inspections in Taiwan, which it described as "onerous" and "not science-based."

Additionally, the report argued that Taiwan's labeling requirements and maximum residue limits for ractopamine -- a feed additive used in U.S. pork -- "inaccurately implied that there is a food safety concern with U.S. pork products."

The U.S. also expressed dissatisfaction with Taiwan's restrictions on imported U.S. vehicles that meet U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

The report asserted that these standards provide a level of safety equivalent to that of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe's (UNECE) 1958 agreement, which Taiwan has adopted.

According to the report, Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications first introduced a cap on such imports in 2008 and reduced it to 100 units per model in 2021, before furthering cutting it to 75 units per model in 2023.

Such a reduction, the report said, could hinder U.S. automakers from attracting consumers by periodically introducing unique new models.

Meanwhile, the report raised continued concerns over online piracy, particularly unauthorized access to textbooks and copyrighted materials through on-campus digital platforms.

Despite Taiwan's several attempts to amend its Copyright Act, the USTR pointed to legal loopholes and slow progress on pending amendments and their implementation, including some submitted to the Legislature in October 2017.

Asked about the potential tariff plan on Tuesday, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said, without elaboration, that Taiwan's government was prepared, that the risks could be controlled, and that it would provide support to affected sectors.