Taipei - A top US envoy in Taiwan Wednesday urged the island to fully allow imports of US beef products if the two sides are to further increase their trade relationship.

"Resuming imports of all US beef and beef products would further invigorate this important trading relationship," said Stephen Young, director of American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy in Taipei.

He said full opening of the Taiwanese market for US beef would also benefit Taiwan's consumers by providing stable and secure access to high-quality beef products.

Taiwan banned US beef in 2003 following the first case of fatal Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad-cow disease spotted in Seattle.

It partially resumed imports of de-boned beef from the US in April, 2005, and reimposed the ban two months later when the second BSE case was reported in the US. Under repeated demands from the US, it resumed imports of de-boned beef from cattle under 30-months old in 2006.

The US was a major supplier of beef for Taiwan before the restriction, and it currently still has a market share of 32 per cent on the island.

Michael Hsu, deputy director of North American affairs under Taiwan's foreign ministry Tuesday admitted that the US beef issue is key to promotion of bilateral trade ties.

Taiwan and US do not have diplomatic relations, but have close economic and other substantive ties. Washington is also the biggest arms supplier for Taiwan. (dpa)