Taiwan's Premier Vows to Quit if Beef Policy Harms Public Health

Premier Sean Chen said Tuesday that he will step down if the government fails to properly carry out a policy on conditionally lifting its ban on ractopamine in beef imports.

The Cabinet has made a four-point policy directive on easing the ban on beef imports containing the leanness-enhancing drug, which Chen described as a decision that factors in public health as the top consideration.

"I will not remain in my post if we fail" to fulfill each of the principles under the policy of ensuring public health, Chen said during a legislative interpellation session.

In early March, the Cabinet announced its policy toward lifting the ractopamine ban based on the principles of "allowing a safe level of ractopamine in beef, separating the permits for importing beef and pork, clearly labeling beef imports and excluding imports of internal organs."

The government, under pressure from the United States, has proposed relaxing its ban on beef imports containing ractopamine residue, creating a public outcry.

Taiwan wants to resolve the beef dispute with the U.S. because it is central to the re-opening of bilateral talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), which have been stalled since 2007 mainly because of controversies over beef imports from the U.S.

The TIFA was signed in 1994 as a framework for Taiwan-U.S. dialogue on trade-related issues in the absence of diplomatic ties.

The U.S. decided against resuming TIFA talks in early 2011 after Taiwan refused to allow the entry of shipments of U.S. beef containing ractopamine residue.