The 2025 Republic of China (Taiwan) Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission to the U.S. (the Mission), led by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Tu Wen-jane, visited Columbus, the capital of Ohio, from September 20 to 23. On September 22, soybean and corn industry representatives of the Mission took part in a signing ceremony with representatives of relevant Ohio industry associations. The event was witnessed by Deputy Minister Tu, Director-General Yen Feng Lei of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago, as well as Ohio state government officials and legislative leaders.
On Taiwan’s side, Chairman Hung of the Taiwan Vegetable Oil Manufacturers Association, and Executive Director Yang of the Taiwan Feed Industry Association, signed separate letters of intent for soybean and corn procurement with the Ohio Soybean Council and the Ohio Corn Marketing Program. According to the agreements, Taiwan will purchase approximately US$2.12 billion in corn products and US$3.44 to 4.2 billion in soybean products from the United States over the next four years.
In her remarks, Deputy Minister Tu highlighted the long-standing sister-state relationship and deep friendship between Taiwan and Ohio, noting that the two sides share a close partnership. She praised Ohio farmers for their hard work and commitment to enhancing productivity through nature-based solutions. She added that this partnership enjoys strong support from the state government, legislature, and leading universities. Tu stressed that the signing of these letters of intent not only strengthens trade ties but also demonstrates Taiwan’s support for Ohio farmers, helping to reduce their exposure to disruptions in global trade, while enhancing the resilience of the Taiwan-U.S. food security supply chain.
In his speech, Director-General Lei noted that this year marks the 46th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, during which Taiwan-U.S. relations have grown significantly in every dimension. He emphasized that the two sides are strong partners in security, trade, and shared values, with mutually complementary ties. Economic links have deepened considerably: in 2024 alone, Taiwan’s investments in the U.S. accounted for 40% of its total outbound investment, while bilateral trade volume between 2021 and 2023 increased by 50%, reflecting the strong economic ecosystem already built between Taiwan and the U.S.
Director-General Lei further emphasized that agricultural cooperation is crucial to Taiwan-U.S. relations. The United States is Taiwan’s largest source of agricultural imports and provides high-quality products. Through initiatives such as the U.S.-Taiwan Summit and this agricultural trade mission, Taiwan continues to strengthen ties with both the U.S. and Ohio, while building a robust and resilient supply chain and industrial ecosystem. He also noted that Ohio ranks third nationwide in manufacturing and is home to significant Taiwanese investment. Foxconn has announced expansion of its AI-related operations in Ohio to meet strong U.S. demand for AI, accelerating the construction of AI servers and data centers and enlarging factory operations. He welcomed the participation of Taiwan’s agricultural trade mission and Ohio industry representatives in this signing ceremony, stressing that such exchanges play a vital role in advancing Taiwan-U.S. and Taiwan-Ohio economic and trade partnerships.
Ohio state officials and legislative leaders in attendance warmly welcomed and thanked the Taiwan agricultural mission. They pointed out that Taiwan is one of Ohio’s top five trading partners, and described this agricultural cooperation as mutually beneficial and deeply significant. In recognition, state officials presented the Mission with certificates of appreciation signed by Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel, expressing gratitude for Taiwan’s support of Ohio farmers and contribution to safeguarding the food security supply chain.
