Taiwan protesters rally against easing in US pork imports

Participants in annual labour march say allowing in American meat containing ractopamine raises food safety issues

Opposition KMT joins demonstration for first time as it tries to tap into public concerns

Reading Time:2 minutes

People attend the annual pro-labour march “Autumn Struggle” to protest against the lifting of restrictions on US pork containing ractopamine feed additive, in Taipei on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:40pm, 22 Nov 2020Updated: 4:40pm, 22 Nov 2020

Thousands of people thronged Taipei’s streets on Sunday for the annual “Autumn Struggle” protest march organised by labour groups, with much of the anger focused on the government’s decision to ease restrictions on imports of US pork.

Taiwan’s main opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) rallied its supporters to join in the march for the first time, having mounted an increasingly strident campaign against the pork move, which it says threatens food safety.

President Tsai Ing-wen announced in August that the government would from January 1 allow in US pork containing ractopamine, an additive that improves leanness but is banned in the European Union and China, as well as US beef more than 30 months old.

Kuomintang chairman Johnny Chiang (front row centre) and former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou (front centre right wearing face mask) lead party members and supporters during the annual pro-labour march in Taipei on Sunday. Photo: AFP

While welcomed in Washington, and removing a roadblock to a long sought after US free-trade deal for Taiwan, the KMT has strongly opposed the decision, tapping into public concern about food safety after several high-profile scandals in recent years.

KMT chairman Johnny Chiang, elected in March to help turn around party fortunes following a trouncing in January’s presidential and parliament elections, called on Tsai to have a televised debate with him about the issue.