Taiwan threatens restrictions on U.S. beef

Taiwan threatens restrictions on U.S. beef    Taiwan's Legislative Yuan on Tuesday took steps to change its regulations to ban imports of cattle organs, minced beef and other worrisome beef products, such as spines and eyes.
   The decision met with outcry from U.S. trade and agriculture officials, who after two years of negotiations had recently concluded an agreement with Taiwan to restore trade in U.S. beef.
   Taiwan, like many countries, banned U.S. beef in December 2003 when the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or 'mad cow' disease in a Washington state cow.
   Taiwan's proposed regulatory amendments 'do not have a basis in science or fact and thus in no way serve to protect Taiwan's food supply,' said Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis and Jim Miller, USDA undersecretary for farm and foreign agricultural services, in a joint statement.
   'If passed, this amendment would represent a new barrier to U.S. beef exports to Taiwan, and world constitute a unilateral abrogation of a bilateral agreement concluded in good faith by the United States with Taiwan just two months ago,' the U.S. officials said.