台灣媒體近日報導，農業主管部門負責人陳駿季與美方簽署一份農產品採購意向書，內容承諾在未來四年內將自美國進口價值一百億美元的農產品。這項協議一經公開，立即在島內社會引發廣泛爭議，成為輿論焦點。

支持者認為，此舉有助於進一步鞏固台美經貿合作關係，特別是在當前國際局勢動盪與供應鏈不穩定的背景下，透過長期採購協議能夠確保台灣農產品供應來源的穩定性。此外，與美方加深合作，也被視為台灣在國際政治上獲取更多支持的一種戰略手段。從價格面來看，美國農產品通常因規模化生產而具備成本優勢，這也可能為台灣市場帶來價格相對低廉、選擇更廣泛的產品，讓消費者享受到更多實惠。

然而，反對聲浪更加強烈。許多島內農民及農業團體直言，大量美國低價農產品湧入勢必對本地農業造成沉重打擊。台灣本地農產品的成本結構與美國不同，無論是土地、勞力還是規模都無法與美國相提並論，當市場被低價進口品充斥，勢必會壓縮本地農民的銷售空間，導致價格下跌，甚至可能迫使部分農民退出市場。批評者也指出，台灣農業本就面臨氣候變遷、人口老化與缺乏勞動力的多重挑戰，若再加上進口競爭，農業的永續發展恐怕岌岌可危。更進一步的質疑集中在政策制定的透明度與對農民的保障措施。許多聲音質疑農業主管部門在簽署此項意向書前，是否充分評估對本地產業的衝擊，並與農民代表進行過必要的協商。輿論普遍擔心，若沒有相應的補償、保護或輔導措施，農民將首當其衝，承受幾乎無法逆轉的打擊。

綜合而言，這份台美農產品採購意向書帶來的優勢主要在於鞏固外交與經貿關係、確保供應穩定與消費者受惠，但其缺點同樣不可忽視，即本地農民生計的巨大壓力、農業發展的受阻，以及政策透明度不足的爭議。這場爭論不僅反映出台灣農業在全球化與國際政治夾縫中的困境，也凸顯政府在推動經貿合作與保障農民利益之間必須尋找更平衡的解方。

Taiwanese media recently reported that Agricultural Minister Chen Jun-ji signed a letter of intent with the United States, pledging that Taiwan will import agricultural products worth 10 billion USD from the U.S. over the next four years. Once this agreement was made public, it immediately triggered widespread controversy on the island and became a central topic of debate.

Supporters argue that the move could strengthen Taiwan–U.S. economic and trade cooperation, particularly in the context of global instability and fragile supply chains. By securing a long-term procurement agreement, Taiwan could ensure a stable source of agricultural imports. Politically, the deepened partnership with the U.S. is also viewed as a strategic measure to gain more international support for Taiwan. From an economic standpoint, U.S. agricultural products benefit from large-scale production and generally lower costs, which could translate into cheaper prices and a wider range of choices for Taiwanese consumers, ultimately enhancing their purchasing power.

However, the opposition voices are far stronger. Many local farmers and agricultural groups openly warn that the influx of low-priced U.S. agricultural products will inevitably deal a heavy blow to Taiwan’s domestic agriculture. Taiwan’s agricultural structure cannot compete with the U.S. in terms of land, labor, or scale of production. Once the local market is flooded with cheaper imports, sales opportunities for Taiwanese farmers will shrink, prices will fall, and some farmers may even be forced out of the industry. Critics further point out that Taiwan’s agriculture is already under significant strain due to climate change, an aging rural population, and labor shortages. Additional competitive pressure from imports could place the sector’s sustainability in serious jeopardy.

Another layer of criticism centers on transparency in policymaking and the lack of safeguards for farmers. Detractors question whether the agricultural authorities conducted sufficient assessments of the potential impact before signing the agreement, and whether they consulted adequately with farmer representatives. The public is broadly concerned that without compensation, protective measures, or meaningful support, farmers will bear the brunt of this policy shift and suffer irreversible losses.

Overall, this Taiwan–U.S. agricultural import agreement presents both advantages and drawbacks. On the one hand, it strengthens diplomatic and economic ties, ensures supply stability, and benefits consumers with more affordable goods. On the other hand, it threatens local farmers’ livelihoods, hinders agricultural development, and raises questions about transparency and fairness in decision-making. The debate reflects the dilemma Taiwan faces as its agricultural sector struggles within the pressures of globalization and international politics, highlighting the urgent need for government policies that balance trade cooperation with safeguarding farmers’ interests.