Taiwan and US pineapple trade deal is almost sealed
Taiwan has agreed to purchase $10 billion of US agricultural products over the next four years in exchange for access to pineapple imports. The announcement was made by Taiwan's President William Lai amid tariff negotiations with Washington.
The Asian mandatary finalized the deal's details after a meeting with US Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg, who was in the region as part of a USDA-sponsored trade mission.
Working out the details
Taiwan’s Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih stated that most of the technical and legal hurdles associated with obtaining market access for US bananas have been overcome, according to a local news outlet, the Taipei Times. Local officials anticipate that the US will approve pineapple imports before the next harvest begins in March 2026.
The minister added that most pest-free pineapple cultivars would be exempt from chemical and non-chemical treatments, which are typically required of fruit imported by the US.
During the meeting, Lindberg thanked Taiwanese consumers for sourcing up to 25 percent of their food from US farmers.
“As a friend of Taiwan, the US is committed to bolstering the nation’s resilience by contributing to its supply of food and energy,” he said.
US fresh pineapple consumption hits record high
Over the past three decades, US pineapple consumption has shifted significantly from processed products to fresh fruit, all thanks to imports, the USDA reports.
Since the late 1990s, the United States has been the world’s largest importer of fresh pineapples, while Costa Rica accounted for nearly 90 percent of the 2.92 billion pounds imported in 2024.
Between 1995 and 2024, the availability of fresh pineapples increased from 10.9 pounds per person to 14.6 pounds per person.
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USDA Trade Mission arrives in Taiwan to boost American ag exports
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