Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Office

APHIS works to safeguard American agriculture by keeping destructive foreign pests and diseases out of the United States. Should an exotic disease threaten U.S. borders, it's APHIS' role to combat the threat and prevent an outbreak. By ensuring the health and well-being of animals and plants throughout the United States, APHIS helps improve agricultural productivity and contributes to the national economy and the public health.

Growing agricultural trade between the United States and Taiwan has created a role for APHIS ensuring that new trade opportunities are realized and that existing trade between the two economies flows smoothly. As APHIS is also delegated as the primary negotiator for Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) related trade issues for the United States, the APHIS Office maintains technical working relationships with our Taiwan Authority counterparts to resolve SPS issues whenever they arise. This relationship contributes to maintaining the success of agricultural trade related commercial activities between the two economies, helping ensure they thrive. As a principle role of APHIS is to make sure the United States and our trading partners adhere to the SPS rules set forth by the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as the other relevant international standards setting organizations, APHIS' role will continue to increase as the United States and Taiwan continue to expand their current trade relationships and establish new partnerships into the foreseeable future.