Criticizing Zero Tariffs on US Peanuts, Chang Li-shan: Expressing Farmers' Voices
Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan expressed farmers' concerns regarding the tariff-free import of US peanuts. Minister of Agriculture Chen Chun-chi outlined plans to enhance the brand value of Taiwanese peanuts and support crop conversion.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 15:33
- 🔍 Collected: April 29, 2026 at 16:01 (28 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 29, 2026 at 23:23 (7h 21m after Collected)
Central News
(Central News Agency, Yunlin County, 29th) With the upcoming tariff-free import of US peanuts, Minister of Agriculture Chen Chun-chi stated today that the brand effectiveness of Taiwanese peanuts will be presented through labels and carbon footprints, emphasizing that agriculture should not be a political issue. Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan, however, questioned what was wrong with expressing farmers' voices.
According to the Taiwan-US Equivalent Trade Agreement (ART), US peanuts will be imported tariff-free. Although the ART has not yet taken effect, peanut farmers are already concerned about the impact. The Ministry of Agriculture estimated yesterday that domestic peanuts would be affected by 20% to 30%, and plans to enhance the value of domestic peanuts and assist with crop conversion. However, Chang Li-shan believes that the zero-tariff measure on US peanuts is tantamount to "destroying agriculture."
Chen Chun-chi mentioned in an interview today that agricultural issues should not be politicized.
Chang Li-shan stated that she hopes Chen Chun-chi can stand with major agricultural counties and voice the farmers' concerns. Facing high US tariffs, the industry is impacted, and there are price concerns. She hopes for the sustainable development of agriculture.
Regarding accusations of politicization, Chang Li-shan said that as the head of a major agricultural county, what is wrong with speaking out for farmers? She hopes Chen Chun-chi does not politicize everything and should stand with farmers to defend their rights.
Chang Li-shan emphasized that the Minister of Agriculture should be the backbone of agriculture and a reliable figure for farmers. She hopes the Minister of Agriculture will properly safeguard farmers' rights, speak out for them, defend agricultural product prices, and stabilize farmers' incomes, which is the right thing to do.
Cai Wuji, General Manager of Huwei Township Farmers' Association, told the Central News Agency reporter that farmers are concerned that the entry of US peanuts will affect the price of domestic peanuts. Furthermore, the government's guidance for converting to sweet potatoes and edamame means farmers not only have to learn field management from scratch but also spend money on necessary machinery and equipment, while also facing market supply and demand issues.
Yunlin's first peanut harvest season will begin in June, and farmers are starting to worry about whether their livelihood for the second crop will be affected.
Mr. Zhang, 92, who cultivates 3 hectares of peanuts, said that he has been growing peanuts for many years and it is impossible to switch crops in his old age. Changing professions is like crossing a mountain range. Peanuts are fully mechanized, but sweet potatoes are still semi-mechanized.
Peanut farmer Mr. Chen believes that they can only rely on market differentiation. US peanuts are cheap, and domestic peanuts are less competitive. The government should only restrict US peanuts from entering the processing market and prevent them from flowing into the general market, giving Taiwanese farmers a glimmer of hope. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150429
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(Central News Agency, Yunlin County, 29th) With the upcoming tariff-free import of US peanuts, Minister of Agriculture Chen Chun-chi stated today that the brand effectiveness of Taiwanese peanuts will be presented through labels and carbon footprints, emphasizing that agriculture should not be a political issue. Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan, however, questioned what was wrong with expressing farmers' voices.
According to the Taiwan-US Equivalent Trade Agreement (ART), US peanuts will be imported tariff-free. Although the ART has not yet taken effect, peanut farmers are already concerned about the impact. The Ministry of Agriculture estimated yesterday that domestic peanuts would be affected by 20% to 30%, and plans to enhance the value of domestic peanuts and assist with crop conversion. However, Chang Li-shan believes that the zero-tariff measure on US peanuts is tantamount to "destroying agriculture."
Chen Chun-chi mentioned in an interview today that agricultural issues should not be politicized.
Chang Li-shan stated that she hopes Chen Chun-chi can stand with major agricultural counties and voice the farmers' concerns. Facing high US tariffs, the industry is impacted, and there are price concerns. She hopes for the sustainable development of agriculture.
Regarding accusations of politicization, Chang Li-shan said that as the head of a major agricultural county, what is wrong with speaking out for farmers? She hopes Chen Chun-chi does not politicize everything and should stand with farmers to defend their rights.
Chang Li-shan emphasized that the Minister of Agriculture should be the backbone of agriculture and a reliable figure for farmers. She hopes the Minister of Agriculture will properly safeguard farmers' rights, speak out for them, defend agricultural product prices, and stabilize farmers' incomes, which is the right thing to do.
Cai Wuji, General Manager of Huwei Township Farmers' Association, told the Central News Agency reporter that farmers are concerned that the entry of US peanuts will affect the price of domestic peanuts. Furthermore, the government's guidance for converting to sweet potatoes and edamame means farmers not only have to learn field management from scratch but also spend money on necessary machinery and equipment, while also facing market supply and demand issues.
Yunlin's first peanut harvest season will begin in June, and farmers are starting to worry about whether their livelihood for the second crop will be affected.
Mr. Zhang, 92, who cultivates 3 hectares of peanuts, said that he has been growing peanuts for many years and it is impossible to switch crops in his old age. Changing professions is like crossing a mountain range. Peanuts are fully mechanized, but sweet potatoes are still semi-mechanized.
Peanut farmer Mr. Chen believes that they can only rely on market differentiation. US peanuts are cheap, and domestic peanuts are less competitive. The government should only restrict US peanuts from entering the processing market and prevent them from flowing into the general market, giving Taiwanese farmers a glimmer of hope. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150429
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.