Taiwan Goodwill Mission Returns to the United States and Will Sign Letters of Intent for Wheat Purchases

ARLINGTON, Virginia — As part of a biennial Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission to the United States to purchase grains and other agricultural products for the people of Taiwan, the Taiwan Flour Millers Association (TFMA) will be in Washington, DC, Sept. 16, 2015, to sign a letter of intent to purchase U.S. wheat in marketing years 2015/16 and 2016/17.

TFMA imports wheat on behalf of all 20 Taiwanese flour mills and has been a loyal customer of U.S. wheat producers for many years. U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) President Alan Tracy and current TFMA Executive Director Shin-Yao Lin, chief executive officer of Top Food Flour Mill in Taipei, Taiwan, will co-sign the letter.

Delegates from TFMA will start their visit to the United States as honored guests of the Idaho Wheat Commission at the Lewiston Roundup Rodeo Sept. 12. The entire mission’s visit to Washington, DC, includes a welcome reception at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a reception Sept. 15, 2015, with the signing ceremony the next day at the U.S. Capitol. Taiwan industry representatives will also sign letters of intent with U.S. Grains Council and the American Soybean Association. The entire delegation will also call on members of the U.S. Congress and policy makers in the executive branch.

After completing formal activities in Washington, DC, the flour millers continue their part of the mission Sept. 17 with visits to Kansas, Montana and Washington to meet with state wheat commission and government representatives before returning to Taiwan Sept. 23

Tracy said the U.S. wheat industry always looks forward to this event and appreciates the long history of mutually beneficial trade relations with the Taiwan milling and wheat foods industry.

“U.S. wheat farmers have maintained a trade office in Taipei since 1966,” Tracy said. “We are proud of that and also quite proud that USW Country Director Ron Lu has been a faithful part of that service for more than 33 years. We want to thank our customers at TFMA for importing significantly more U.S. wheat than the 1.7 million metric tons in the agreement signed in 2013.”

USW is the industry’s market development organization working in more than 100 countries. Its mission is to “develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers and their customers.” USW activities are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 18 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by FAS. USW maintains 17 offices strategically located around the world to help wheat buyers, millers, bakers, wheat food processors and government officials understand the quality, value and reliability of all six classes of U.S. wheat.

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