Taiwan farm sales to China to set new highs

Taiwan's exports of agricultural products to China will set new records in both volume and value this year after a trade delegation from Shanghai secured new purchasing contracts, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA).
Under the COA arrangement, delegates from importing and retailing companies, led by Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, negotiated with Taiwan suppliers for procuring more than 2,000 metric tons of fruit yesterday.
Local exporters said the increased fruit procurements in the long-term contracts are aimed at securing steady supply of seasonal fruits for the massive number of visitors including an estimated one million from Taiwan to the 2010 World Expo taking place from May 1 to Oct. 30 in Shanghai.
COA officials said Taiwan's agricultural exports to China, mainly fruits and vegetables, during the first three months surged about 30 percent from the same quarter last year.
The expedited direct flight service across the Taiwan Straits has enabled the shipment of more fresh and live fishery products from Taiwan to major mainland Chinese cities, they said.
Taiwan farmers' interests will be safeguarded under the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) between Taiwan and China that will be signed later this year, the officials.
Among the major consensuses, negotiators from both sides have reached a principle that the Taiwan market will not open wider to Chinese agricultural products while the Chinese side will increase farm imports from Taiwan.
No additional agricultural products from China, except those approved during the eight-year period by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party when it was still in power, will be allowed into the Taiwan market, according the preliminary ECFA talks concluded in Taoyuan last week.