$1.2 Billion Idaho-Taiwan Wheat Agreement

On September 19^th, Idaho and Taiwan signed a 1.2-billion-dollar wheat deal. Taiwanese flour millers plan on purchasing 3.6 million metric tons from U.S. producers over a three-year period, much of it from Idaho farmers.

Verbatim:

“We're very honored here today to have a delegation from the Taiwanese Government, as well as the Taiwan Flour Mills Association,” said Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke. “They represent a long standing, very vibrant relationship that the state of Idaho has had with Taiwan for over 40 years. They are Idaho's second largest trading partner after Canada, and  they are a very important part of our agricultural markets here.”

“This LOI is not only merely a trade agreement. I think it's more like we further strengthen the 40 years, Sister City Sister states relationship between Taiwan and Idaho, and this is also saying that both sides have this determination to create a food supply partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan, particularly with Idaho,” said Director General Mei-Chen Lin of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle. “That we support U.S. farmers with reliable and unstable markets, and also we provide the Taiwanese people with good quality and safe food. I would like to thank you, Lieutenant Governor and people of the Idaho again for the this long relationship and we'll keep working on it. Thank you.”

“On behalf of Idaho farmers, we strive really hard to produce a high quality, good product and we're very appreciative that the Taiwanese recognize that value in Idaho wheat, and will pay a premium and our long, long standing relationship that it's moved past just trade to becoming friends and knowing each other. And we could not survive without customers like Taiwan. And we appreciate that,” said Idaho Wheat Commission Chairman Cory Kress.

“U.S. wheat takes an 80% share in Taiwan. It's because U.S. wheat always consistently provided a very good quality. We will purchase about 3.6 million metric tons of wheat from 2026 to 2029,” said Taiwan Flour Mills Association Chairman Wei-Chang Chang.

“This represents about $1.2 billion of commitment of purchases over the next three years. So that's very significant,” said Bedke. “We're very proud to be in the food business in Taiwan. If you eat dim sum in Taiwan, you're eating Idaho U.S. soft wheat, so… laughter…