Agriculture ministry details measures to offset Trump tariff impact

Taipei, April 22 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) on Monday unveiled a comprehensive support package to help agricultural producers and exporters weather the impact of impending U.S. tariffs.

The six-measure initiative comes in response to a decision by the Donald Trump administration on April 2 (U.S. time) to impose a 32 percent import duty on all imports from Taiwan, a move that a week later was postponed for 90 days.

In its place the U.S. has temporarily imposed a 10 percent tariff on most imports from countries around the world, including Taiwan, with China one of the few exceptions.

According to a statement published on the MOA's website, the measures are designed to stabilize the industry, protect affected producers and enhance Taiwan's competitiveness in both domestic and overseas markets.

To cushion the short-term financial impact of tariffs, the ministry said it would subsidize loan interest rates by up to 0.75 percent for a period of six months, with individual loans capped at NT$20 million for eligible farmers, agricultural groups and agribusinesses.

Eligibility will extend to producers with export histories to the United States or those indirectly impacted by tariff adjustments, it said.

Beyond financing, the government will provide subsidies for cold chain infrastructure, product processing, and quality certification, as part of broader efforts to upgrade production capabilities.

Flower growers, for instance, will be eligible for subsidies of up to NT$10 million as long as they meet certain conditions, while producers of tea or edamame, a kind of immature soybean popular in East Asian cuisine, will be able to receive targeted support for both equipment and packaging upgrades.

The ministry also announced support for branding, packaging innovation and market segmentation, including a subsidy of up to NT$150,000 per project to cover international certification costs for flower, edamame and tea products.

Aquaculture operators, including fish farmers producing barramundi and tilapia, will receive enhanced support for cold storage and ice-making facilities, with subsidy rates increased by 10 percent compared to previous plans.

Support will also extend to deep-sea and offshore fishers catching mahi-mahi -- especially those participating in the Fishery Improvement Program (FIP), who will be eligible for upgrades in their cold chain systems of up to NT$3 million per vessel.

To ensure continued access to global markets, the MOA will also fund overseas marketing campaigns for Taiwan-grown flowers and seedlings, barramundi, tilapia, mahi-mahi, edamame, and 100 percent domestically produced tea.

The MOA noted that detailed application guidelines are now available on its official website and that a free consultation hotline has been established to answer inquiries.