Zhao Zenglian, vice minister of China’s General Administration of Customs, announced on Sunday that China will lift its ban on the importation of several agricultural products from Taiwan, including citrus fruit that meet quarantine requirements. The decision is based on scientific assessments, though no specific dates for the resumption were provided. This move comes after a ban was imposed on August 3, 2022, following a visit by United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei. The ban included citrus fruits, citing infestations and pesticide residue concerns.
The Chinese government has expressed its willingness to engage in further communication with the KMT and relevant Taiwanese authorities to resume imports of agricultural and fishery products. This dialogue is contingent upon the mutual political understanding of the 1992 consensus and opposition to Taiwan’s independence. Despite the announcement, Taiwan’s Acting Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih indicated that an official notice from China has yet to be received, emphasizing that any communication should occur through established cross-strait quarantine channels.
Statistics show a significant impact on Taiwan’s citrus exports following the ban, with pomelo exports to China dropping drastically from 4,821 metric tons in 2021 to Hong Kong becoming the largest importer in subsequent years. The ban’s lifting could potentially restore the trade flow of these agricultural products between Taiwan and China.
Source: focustaiwan.tw
