ANNIE HUANG

Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Thousands of Taiwanese farmers pelted waste and rotten eggs at a government building Thursday in protest of a plan to allow imports of U.S. beef containing a growth drug, challenging the island's president to "say no" to Washington.

Newly re-elected President Ma Ying-jeou is seeking to strengthen ties with the U.S. by resolving a long-running beef dispute that has stalled trade talks crucial to keeping up the island's competitive edge in global trade.

The protesters gathered outside Taiwan's ornate legislative building and later marched to the Agriculture Council -- Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture -- and pelted police with pig excrement and rotten eggs. They broke through a security barrier, but shield-wielding officers prevented them from entering the building.

The Cabinet announced this week it plans to lift a ban on U.S. beef containing minimal traces of ractopamine, a feed additive for meat leaning. The government sought to appease opponents by promising to ensure that vendors properly label their meat products. The plan needs legislative approval.

Many of the protesting hog farmers chanted anti-U.S. beef slogans and held English-language placards saying "President, Dare You Say No to USA?" They were joined by several lawmakers from the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, which has been in the forefront of the anti-U.S. beef movement.

Hog farmers fear that lifting the ban could spark widespread health concerns that would affect consumption of other meat products, undermining their livelihoods.

The U.S. has long been the most important foreign partner for diplomatically isolated Taiwan, which China claims is part of its territory.

Washington maintains that ractopamine is a safe additive, legalized in more than 100 countries. Notable exceptions are the European Union and China.

DPP lawmakers have paralyzed several legislative sessions, demanding that Premier Sean Chen step down for backing the new ractopamine policy.

They question the rationale of imposing a ban on all ractopamine-treated meat except U.S. beef.

Taiwan's other sources of imported beef are New Zealand and Australia. Neither country uses ractopamine.

Economics Minister Shih Yen-hsiang warned that failing to lift the beef ban could jeopardize negotiations for a trade framework that he said could herald a free trade agreement with the U.S.

Slashing tariffs on Taiwanese exports to the U.S. could reduce the island's heavy reliance on the mainland Chinese market, he said.

The U.S. sent a team to inspect security measures at Taiwanese airports this week, as part of a plan to grant Taiwanese visa-waiver status. It is widely seen as a gesture in support of the Cabinet plan to lift the beef ban.

Taiwan banned all U.S. beef imports in 2003 over concerns about mad cow disease but permitted boneless beef imports in 2006.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.