Iowa delegates met with a Costco-Taipei meat purchasing manager and U.S. Meat Export Federation staff on customer preferences and opportunities for meat exports into the Taiwan market. Pictured are Tim Kaldenberg with Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (second from left) Tim Ng with C K International (second from right) and Hayley Moss with Iowa Beef Industry Council (far right). (Photo courtesy of Iowa Economic Development Authority)
A delegation of industry leaders and Iowa’s deputy secretary of agriculture, Grant Menke, completed a trade mission to cities in Taiwan and Japan, countries that are “critical” trading partners for grain, meat and manufactured goods from Iowa.
Japan is Iowa’s second largest export market for meat (pork and beef) and for corn. Iowa companies exported $533 million in meat products and $367 million in corn to the country in 2023, according to a press release from the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
Iowa exports primarily manufactured and value-added goods to Taiwan, with 2023 export estimates of $321 million. The country is also Iowa’s eighth largest soybean market and imported $87 million worth in 2023 and nearly $51 million worth of meat products from Iowa companies.
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Menke said in a statement the trip built Iowa’s “longstanding friendships and partnerships” with Japan and Taiwan, countries he said have “strong, stable markets” that “deeply value” and “depend heaviliy” on exports from Iowa.
The delegation included representatives from Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association and ag processing companies, who traveled to Tokyo and Osaka in Japan and Taipei, Taiwan with the deputy secretary.
Menke said in the press release the visits and tours showed Japanese and Taiwanese innovation, offered insights on Iowa agriculture and “confirmed the potential and desire for even greater volumes of Iowa ag exports to Japan and Taiwan in the future.”
“Iowa is an agricultural production powerhouse, so it is vital for our state’s farmers and agribusinesses to be able to share our abundance with the world through trade and to seek new market opportunities for Iowa ag products through participation in international trade missions,” Menke said.
Strengthened relationships with international trade partners could become more important if President-elect Donald Trump implements the tariffs he campaigned on, which some fear could lead to another U.S.-China trade war.
Menke and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship declined to comment on potential tariffs.
The overseas visit was organized by the Iowa Economic Development Authority, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service and national trade councils.
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