[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 111 (Thursday, September 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              TAIWAN'S AGRICULTURAL TRADE GOODWILL MISSION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 8, 2005

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that the 
Republic of China, Taiwan, has sent an Agricultural Trade Goodwill 
Mission to Capitol Hill and there will be a signing ceremony between 
the Mission and its American grain suppliers on Wednesday, September 
14, 2005, at 9 a.m. in the Mansfield Room of the Capitol Building.
  It is also my understanding that Taiwan's Goodwill Mission will sign 
letters of intent to purchase 14.5 million metric tons, equivalent to 
559 million bushels, of U.S. wheat, soybeans and corn in 2006 and 2007. 
The mission's tannery group will also sign a statement with American 
suppliers to buy up to 6 million pieces of ``wet salted hide'' and 
``wet blue hide'' for years 2006 and 2007. The total value of all the 
purchases will amount to $3.1 billion.
  I welcome Taiwan's Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission to Capitol 
Hill. Two years ago, the same Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission came 
to the Hill and signed letters of intent agreeing to purchase $2.87 
billion for the years 2004 and 2005. The last mission planned to buy 
15.1 metric tons, approximately 581 bushels, of wheat, soybeans and 
corns and 4 million pieces of hide. As of June 2005, Taiwan had already 
purchased 10.5 metric tons, equivalent to 404 million bushels, of U.S. 
grain. And in 2004, Taiwan purchased an additional 3 million pieces of 
U.S. hide in 2004. Given Taiwan's long history as an excellent customer 
for U.S. agricultural products, it is reasonable to expect Taiwan to 
fulfill all its agreed-upon commitments and more.
  Taiwan has had a very strong trade relations with our Nation. Year 
after year, Taiwan has imported U.S. cattle hides, U.S. hog skins, 
soybean, corn and wheat and other agricultural products, amounting to 
billions of dollars for American producers. We hope this trend will 
continue in the future as our agricultural exports to Taiwan greatly 
benefit our grain exporters and farmers.
  I join my colleagues in welcoming members of Taiwan's Agricultural 
Trade Goodwill to Capitol Hill and I wish Dr. Chen Hsi-Huang, Mr. Kuo 
Hsin-Hong and Mr. Wang Tsong-ming, heads of The Soybean and Corn 
Delegation, The Wheat Delegation and The Hide Delegation, and members 
of the delegation a pleasant journey as they travel to Iowa, Ohio, 
Missouri, Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, Kansas, and Texas to meet with 
state and local officials and suppliers.
  We also hope they will return to Capitol Hill again next year.

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