TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In a significant move to mend fences, China announced last Sunday (April 28) that it will lift its ban on importing several agricultural and fishery products from Taiwan.
This decision, which includes citrus fruit and two types of fish, was based on scientific assessments, according to Zhao Zenglian (趙增連), vice minister of China's General Administration of Customs.
The announcement came during a meeting with Kuomintang (KMT) legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) and 16 other KMT lawmakers, highlighting efforts to improve cross-strait relations.
Easing Tensions
The ban, initially imposed on Aug. 3, 2022, following United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei, had targeted products such as citrus fruit, refrigerated largehead hairtail fish, and frozen horse mackerel.
China had cited infestation of mealybugs, excessive pesticide residues, and recurrent detection of the COVID-19 virus on packaging as reasons for the ban.
Zhao expressed China's willingness to further communicate with the KMT and relevant authorities on resuming imports, emphasizing the importance of the 1992 consensus and opposition to Taiwan independence.
Impact and Response
Taiwan's Acting Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) stated that his ministry had not yet received an official notice from China regarding the lifting of the ban.
He emphasized that any communication on the issue should occur through the cross-strait quarantine platform, as has been the practice in the past.
Before the ban, Taiwan exported 7,062 metric tons of pomelos in 2021, with 4,821 metric tons going to China. However, exports dropped to 2,909 metric tons in 2022, with Hong Kong becoming the largest importer.