Pingtung Irwin Mangoes Sold in France for NT$1,180 Each: Rao Ching-ling Says No One Helped Taitung Sugar Apples with Export Tariffs
2026-06-20 11:41 United Daily News / Reporter Yu Congguang / Taitung Instant Report
The issue of Taitung sugar apple exports continues to attract attention. Recently, Green Camp supporters and netizens discussed in a Facebook group that Pingtung Irwin mangoes have successfully entered the French market, with even a single fruit reportedly priced at NT$1,180. This sparked many netizens to think of the situation of Taitung sugar apples, questioning, "Why can Pingtung Irwin mangoes be sold to France, but Taitung sugar apples cannot?"
Some Green Camp supporters and netizens believe that if Taiwanese agricultural products can successfully enter the European high-end market, it not only enhances product value but also helps reduce dependence on a single market. Therefore, they hope that Taitung sugar apples can follow the same model to expand overseas markets. However, many netizens also commented that international market development involves issues such as quarantine, tariffs, logistics, and channels, which cannot be accomplished solely by local government efforts.
In response to the discussion, County Magistrate Rao Ching-ling personally commented in the thread, saying, "No one helped Taitung sugar apples negotiate tariffs with France! Tariff and trade negotiations are the central government's responsibility. We should ask why they only negotiated for Pingtung County." This remark once again sparked heated discussion among netizens.
Regarding the issue of sugar apple export markets, Rao Ching-ling said in a recent interview with media personality Wang Qianqiu that local governments have been helping farmers improve quality, establish production and marketing traceability systems, and strengthen quarantine management for years. However, work related to international market access, tariff negotiations, and quarantine talks falls under the central government's jurisdiction and cannot be completed by local governments alone.
Rao pointed out that the central government often encourages farmers to diversify market risks, but in reality, opening up new markets cannot be achieved by mere slogans. From market access and bilateral trade negotiations to tariff conditions, quarantine certification, and logistics costs, every step requires the central government's coordination and advocacy.
She said that although Taitung has been working hard to expand other overseas markets in recent years, in terms of market size or purchasing volume, it is difficult to fully replace the original main market demand in a short time. For farmers, the most important thing is to sell their products smoothly. Therefore, in addition to requiring local governments to improve quality, the central government should also help open up market channels so that farmers have equal opportunities.
Rao emphasized that the responsibility of local governments is to help farmers grow good fruit and maintain quality, but market and channel issues require shared responsibility between the central and local governments. "Cooperation between the central and local governments can truly solve the difficulties farmers face, and also allow high-quality Taitung sugar apples to be seen by more international markets."
