1-5 news: Taiwan lawmakers reinstate U.S. beef import ban
"Although there's scientific basis for the (beef) imports and they are in accord with international standards, the public still had its doubts and the legislature's decision reflected this," Ma said following the ban.
The American Institute in Taiwan, the equivalent to a U.S. embassy in Taiwan, said the move undermined Taiwan's credibility as a responsible trading partner. "The U.S. deeply regrets the decision to restrict U.S. beef imports," the institute said in a statement. "The legislature's decision to abrogate the bilateral protocol we negotiated in good faith disrespects both science-based standards as well as the findings of Taiwan's own risk assessment." The move, though, will not likely affect relations between the two countries including American arms sales.