I definitely dont want and wonât eat it but I want the meat to be clearly labeled where it is from to make that choice. It gets murky if they start hiding this data to take away customer choice
So Taiwan substitutes one political bully with another bully. Buy our stuff or else no support. Taiwan can look to Canada as to what happens when the USA doesnât get their way with free trade agreements. They just slap their own rules against the agreements and tell the other country too bad. Korea got a taste of that âfree tradeâ love too.
Do you honestly believe that the US is a bully to Taiwan?
Does the US claim Taiwan as its territory? Does it threaten to take Taiwan by force? Does the US try to interfere with Taiwanâs internal politics? Does the US use economic coercion to poach Taiwanâs allies and keep Taiwan from participating in international organizations? Has the US detained Taiwanese citizens without due process?
The US isnât conditioning a commitment to defend Taiwan based on an FTA or lack thereof. But itâs fairly obvious that it wouldnât hurt Taiwan to get closer to the US.
The US is the largest consumer market on the planet. Taiwan is tiny by comparison. Taiwan already runs a $14 billion trade surplus with the US so economically, a deal would be a lot more meaningful for Taiwan based on the size of the markets alone. And thatâs not to mention the legitimacy that an FTA with the US would give Taiwan, which could lead to other big FTAs.
Trade agreements are a give and take. Countries almost always have to compromise. Ag is important to the US. If Taiwan wonât compromise around ag imports from the US, what can it offer to make a deal sensible? Itâs not bullying to negotiate a deal that isnât one sided.
You complain about Canada and Korea but last time I checked, both of them run trade surpluses with the US. Trade agreements arenât static. The world has changed a lot and is changing ever faster. Trade agreements are complex and can be renegotiated and modified as circumstances warrant, just like any business arrangement.
Since now thereâs an internationally approved standard on detectable trace ractopamine allowed, I have no issue with Taiwan following that standard, especially when Taiwan has already been importing US beef based on that same standard.
On the other hand, the effects of ractopamine are poorly studied. The US is single-handedly shoving ractopamine down everyoneâs throats. Most countries bans domestic ractopamine use, and only allows import product containing ractopamine to placate the US.
By the way, many Asian countries do not shy away from eating beef or pork intestines, they would be subjected to a much higher level of ractopamine residue than people in the US who only eat steaks and pork chops. If the the government ever allows beef or pork intestines import, then itâs a pretty significant threat to public health.
You mean when the USA warrants. Picking fights with all their allies isnât a winning strategy long term. Trump says, take this deal or no deal. So smaller economies need to suck it up or no deal. Thatâs a bully, yes.
Canada arrests the huawei princess and they say we will consider trading her if a deal was made. In the meantime Canada gets the ire from China.
If there is trade imbalances, itâs because your industries are in demand of our products more than the other way around.
The US doesnât seek balance the way I think youâre implying. The US is often a net importer of goods and a net exporter of services. In many cases the US cares more about access to markets for strategic industries, not overall trade deficits. And then thereâs access to capital markets, intellectual property protections, etc.
Some earlier in this thread mentioned that local producers use ractopamine as well, and he ban is just not enforced. If there true, thereâs your study.