Belize Cleared to Export Shrimp to Taiwan After 2-Year Process

Belize has officially gained access to the high-value Taiwanese market for shrimp exports, following more than two years of rigorous technical collaboration and regulatory processes. The announcement came yesterday during the Second Meeting of the Administrative Commission under the Belize–Taiwan Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA), held in Taiwan, where Chief Executive Officer H.E. Amalia Mai received confirmation on behalf of the Belizean delegation. Twelve aquaculture facilities in Belize have now been approved to export shrimp to Taiwan after undergoing an extensive risk assessment and passing Taiwan’s systematic inspection procedure. Exports may officially begin as of July 30. This milestone follows a process that began in 2022 with the submission of Taiwan’s Equivalence Evaluation Questionnaire, which led to several rounds of documentation, verification, and a critical in-country inspection by Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) in October 2024. Taiwan, which imported an annual average of over USD $349 million in shrimp between 2020 and 2024, represents a lucrative market for Belize. The country’s shrimp industry, which has remained resilient amid global and regional challenges, is now poised for expansion through increased investment and greater market-driven growth.