On Sept. 23, 2011, a delegation from the Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission visited Ohio to sign letters of intent to purchase corn and soybeans. Taiwan has agreed to purchase $2.5 billion to $3.4 billion in corn and $1.73 billion to $1.84 billion in soybeans in 2012 and 2013.

Ohio officials met with representatives from the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office (TECO) in Columbus in May 2011 to discuss export and investment business opportunities for Ohio businesses. The United States has no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan; therefore, TECO is the current "political relationship" that exists between the two countries. It was during the May meeting that the idea to bring a delegation from Taiwan to Ohio and the possibility of a signing agreement for purchases of corn and soybeans was first discussed.