1.    Promoting participation in regional economic and trade integration agreements    

　　The results of overall negotiations in the World Trade Organization (WTO) have not been up to expectations, and the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, also failed to attain substantial results. Countries are therefore pro-actively committing to regional or bilateral Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Seeing as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has already completed a basic agreement, Taiwan has proactively strengthened all types of preparatory work to facilitate participation in the second round of CPTPP negotiations.

　　Faced with the impact on, and opportunities presented for, Taiwan’s agricultural sector after entry into the CPTPP, the COA has continued to collect and collate relevant data and to maintain a firm grasp on the progress of negotiations, evaluating potential impacts on Taiwan agriculture, and researching and preparing negotiating positions and response strategies. In addition, the government has continued to allocate a budget for the “Fund for Redressing Damage to Farmers Caused by Agriculture Imports.” The goals are to upgrade the competitiveness of agriculture, ensure farmers’ incomes, accelerate adjustment and transformation of the industrial structure, cope with the possible impacts of trade liberalization on Taiwan agriculture, and grasp the future opportunities arising from the liberalization of the market for agriproducts in CPTPP member states.

2.    Pro-active participation in international organizations

　　In order to participate in discussion of important international agricultural issues, and to uphold Taiwan’s rights and interests and make contributions to the agricultural aspects of international society, the COA has continued to participate in international agricultural organizations and the agriculture-related activities of international organizations including the WTO, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asian Productivity Organization, the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions, the African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO), the Asia and Pacific Seed Association, and the World Organization for Animal Health. We have also strengthened relations with international institutions based in Taiwan, including the World Vegetable Center, the Food and Fertilizer Technology Center, and the International Center for Land Policy Studies and Training.

　　The COA also dispatched personnel to attend the “11th WTO Ministerial Conference” as well as APEC activities including the “High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Response to Climate Change” (Ministerial Level), the “29th APEC Ministerial Meeting,” and the 11th and 12th meetings of the APEC “Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade” (with all three APEC activities held in Vietnam). We also attended the 4th APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry, held in Seoul, Korea. In addition, the COA pro-actively dispatched staff to participate in 90 annual meetings and meetings of relevant working groups of major regional fisheries management organizations including the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC), the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT), the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO), and the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC). In 2017, we obtained a quota of 92,063.5 metric tons for tuna and tuna-like species.

3.    Promoting agricultural cooperation

　　The COA held bilateral agricultural cooperation meetings with eight countries in 2017 (including Thailand, the Netherlands, Indonesia, India, Hungary, Canada, Vietnam, and France), to promote numerous areas of technical cooperation, industry exchanges, and elimination of barriers to trade in agriproducts. In addition, we arranged for the ministers of agriculture of El Salvador and St. Vincent to visit Taiwan to inspect our accomplishments in agricultural development. Moreover, in February and July, respectively, the COA completed signing of the “Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture Between the Taipei Economic and Cultural Mission in Ankara and the Turkish Trade Office in Taipei” and the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Warsaw Trade Office in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Warsaw on Establishing a
Consultation Mechanism in the Field of Agriculture.” 

　　In order to make concrete contributions to regional food security and sustainable development of agriculture, in cooperation with the French Office in Taipei, the COA held the “2017 Taiwan-France Symposium on Circular Agriculture” on June 1. From September 4 through 8, 2017, we organized the “International Training Course of Value-Added Controlled Environment Agriculture.” On November 22, in cooperation with the International Rice Research Institute, the COA held the “workshop on genetic and ecological methods to boost rice production under climate change.” In order to encourage young farmers and agricultural school students to participate in international affairs, the COA, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, chose 30 outstanding “Young Agricultural Ambassadors” to go to the Philippines and Indonesia in September to (i) undertake exchanges with agricultural talent in those countries and (ii) assist young farmers to build international interpersonal networks.

　　In terms of fisheries cooperation, the COA, along with the Southwest Fisheries Science Center of the National Marine Fisheries Service of the US’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, held a Taiwan-US bilateral fisheries consultative conference, and Taiwan and the US reached a consensus on the renewal of the “Memorandum of Understanding Between the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States and the American Institute in Taiwan Concerning Cooperation in Fisheries and Aquaculture.”

4.    Advancing cross-strait agricultural interactions

　　In cross-strait agricultural interaction, the COA upholds the principles of equal dignity and mutual benefit and prosperity, as well as the concepts of “steadfast diplomacy” and “mutual assistance for mutual benefits.” We promote agricultural trade, disease prevention and inspection and quarantine work, management of fishing boat workers, management of agricultural intellectual property rights, and agricultural industries. In 2017 the COA reviewed applications from 373 groups (4,135 people in total) for mainland Chinese citizens to visit Taiwan for agricultural professional exchange. We also reviewed applications to visit Taiwan from 50 groups (101 people in
total) of mainland Chinese agribusiness people.

　　To avoid shocks from permitting the import of mainland Chinese agricultural products into Taiwan, the COA continued to restrict imports of some mainland Chinese agriproducts. Moreover, we kept “agriproducts in which Taiwan has a technology- or technique-based competitive advantage” on the list of items that are banned for investment by Taiwan businesses in mainland China. Under the preconditions of maintaining development of agricultural industries and protecting technology that provides a competitive advantage, the COA has strongly urged the upgrading of the quality of domestically produced agriproducts and the balanced development of, and long-term operations in, potential markets in all regions.

　　In 2017, the total value of trade in agriproducts between Taiwan and mainland China was US$2.07 billion, an increase of 10% over the figure of US$1.88 billion in 2016. Of this, the total value of exports of Taiwan agriproducts to mainland China was USS$1.03 billion, an increase of 13.2% 

5.    moting the Agricultural New Southbound Policy 

　　The main working areas and results of the Agricultural New Southbound Policy, which is the main pillar behind the flagship project of “Regional Agricultural Development,” were as follows:

1. Promoting the export of Taiwan agricultural materials, equipment, and technology; comprehensively upgrading agricultural cooperative relations with New Southbound Policy (NSP) partner countries: In 2017 the COA held five agricultural cooperation conferences with NSP partner countries including Thailand, Indonesia, India, Australia, and Vietnam, resolving important agricultural issues of mutual concern. The total value of trade in agriproducts with NSP partner countries was US$5.76 billion, an increase of 9.3% over 2016. Of this, the total value of exports from Taiwan to NSP partner countries was US$1.33 billion, an increase of 7.4% over 2016. In 2017, the volume of fertilizer, pesticides, and agricultural machinery and equipment exported from Taiwan to NSP partner countries was 502,000 metric tons, an increase of 33% over 2016, with the volume of exports of fertilizer and pesticides rising by 34.6% and 5.1% respectively, and exports of agricultural machinery increasing in value by 6.5%.

2. Strengthening two-way exchanges of agricultural talent and technology, training transnational agricultural talent: In 2017, there were a total of 614 persons involved in exchanges between high-level agricultural personnel from Taiwan’s government and the governments of NSP partner countries. Moreover, as for training courses offered by international agricultural organizations based in Taiwan or by research institutes of the COA, a total of 42 trainees from seven countries took the courses. In addition, we also provided 99 overseas Chinese or foreign students studying at universities in Taiwan with opportunities to explore careers in agriculture.

3. Strengthening bilateral economic, trade, and investment relations in agriculture; encouraging Taiwanese businesses to make agricultural investments in NSP partner countries: The COA assists businesses to go to NSP partner countries to make investments in agriculture. We also, through cooperation with the partner country, establish “comprehensive agricultural demonstration zones,” and strengthen cooperation in food and agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, and irrigation. In addition, the COA introduces agricultural machinery, facilities, and materials from Taiwan and assists Taiwanese businesses to break through investment and trade barriers that they face in NSP partner countries.

4. Building important agricultural backup production bases, working together to safeguard regional food security: In 2017 the COA assisted the Taiwan Fertilizer Company to evaluate investment in establishing a factory in Indonesia. We also had a plan to build a supply system for vegetables in Southeast Asian countries. In this way the COA can safeguard food security and export vegetables to Taiwan when necessary to relieve the pressure of supply shortages during the flood season.