1.Agriculture Ministry Defends Quotas and Tariffs to Ensure Food Security and Farmers' Welfare

In response to the United States' reciprocal tariff policy, Taiwan is actively engaging in trade negotiations with the U.S. On May 14, a legislator raised concerns in the Legislative Yuan, suggesting that the U.S. may demand market access and the removal of trade barriers, which could severely impact vulnerable industries such as rice farming. In response, Minister of Agriculture Chen Jun-ji emphasized that Taiwan’s rice farmers, numbering between 220,000 and 300,000, must be protected. Whether in terms of expanding import quotas or lowering tariffs, the Ministry's position is clear: "There will be no concessions." This includes agricultural products like rice and chicken, where the Ministry will uphold existing quotas and tariff levels to safeguard food security and farmers' rights.

2.Korean Fisheries Agency Visits Taiwan to Learn About Gillnet System and Gear Loss Reporting

To reduce the environmental impact of discarded fishing gear, Taiwan's Fisheries Agency has implemented the "Gillnet Real-Name System" since 2021, focusing on source management. Under this system, each gillnet is assigned a unique "ID card." Lost fishing gear must be reported and tracked, with dedicated teams responsible for timely clean-up.　This initiative not only helps keep Taiwan's coastal waters cleaner but also attracted a visit from the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency (FIRA) on the 14^th. The delegation came to learn about Taiwan's marine waste management procedures, labeling standards, and temporary storage area management. The Korean side also shared their plans to introduce a fishing gear deposit system next year and praised Taiwan’s fishermen for their proactive efforts in retrieving marine debris and discarded fishing nets, highlighting it as a model of responsible fisheries practices.