Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Grant Menke and a 16-member delegation recently returned from a trade mission to Taiwan and Japan to bolster partnerships and expand agricultural export opportunities. Organized by the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), the Nov. 15-23 mission included representatives from Iowa’s meat, grain, and processing industries. Taiwan and Japan are top markets for U.S. agricultural exports, with Iowa exporting $1.3 billion to Japan and $225.1 million to Taiwan in 2023. Menke says, “Iowa is an agricultural production powerhouse, so it is vital for our state’s farmers and agribusinesses to be able to share our abundance with the world through trade and to seek new market opportunities for Iowa ag products through participation in international trade missions.” Highlights included discussions on trade policy, business development meetings, and visits to Taipei, Tokyo, and Osaka. Japan is Iowa’s second-largest market for pork and beef, importing $533 million in 2023, while Taiwan ranks eighth for soybean imports. The delegation worked with organizations, including the U.S. Meat Export Federation and USDA, to address trade barriers and build connections.
