Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang criticised China for breaching international trade rules and “discriminating” against Taiwan after Beijing imposed additional import restrictions on Taiwanese products.
China has contravened WTO norms by “making its own rules” and “meddling in trade through administrative means,” Su said.
Adding that China is “especially tough on Taiwan,” the leader said that the Asian giant “especially discriminates” against the island, which it claims to be part of its own territory.
“They’ve asked Taiwan to do this and do that,” he remarked.
Su stated that Taipei will file an appeal with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and also lodge a protest with Beijing. In addition, Taipei has also assured that it will take appropriate steps to assist affected businesses.
Su’s comments come after Beijing announced import bans on dozens of alcohol and other beverage products from Taipei.
The Chinese General Administration of Customs website said on Friday that the government is suspending imports of 11 of 28 beer and distillery items registered by Taiwanese exporters. Affected suppliers include Taihu Brewing, Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Inc, King Car Food Industrial Co, Legend Brewery Co, Win Shan International Co, and state-owned Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp.
The country also blocked shipments of 123 of 354 beverages registered by Taiwanese exporters. Those affected by the move include HeySong Corp, Vitalon Foods Co, Uni-President Enterprises Corp, Taisun Enterprise Co, Oceanic Beverages Co, and King To Nin Jiom Medicine.
Heard that the #PRC is banning some products from #Taiwan again, including our beer. Economic coercion of course. But they don’t know what they’re missing: the great taste of freedom. JW#FreedomBeer pic.twitter.com/VhcLM4zXPc
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) December 10, 2022
The import registration authorisation of some of the affected companies was not due to expire until 2026 or 2027.
China also suspended imports of several seafood products from the island nation on Thursday, citing failure to comply with its new customs registration system, which it instituted last year. The ban has especially impacted squid, Pacific saury, and four-finger threadfin.
Some producers suspected that their applications were denied for using “Taiwan” instead of “China Taiwan” on the registration documents, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang said.
However, Beijing did not give reasons for denying the applications and stated that in comparison with other countries, Taiwan was “treated specially and unfairly.”
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) alleged yesterday that Beijing had intentionally targeted Taiwanese exporters.
“China has used food safety concerns as a pretext for interfering with bilateral trade, and such irrational behaviour contravenes international trade norms and hurts cross-strait commercial exchanges,” it said. It thus called on Beijing to return to practising normal trade practices and resume imports.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian defended the measure on Friday. Zhu noted that the new registration system, which was introduced in April 2021 to assure food safety, had come into effect on January 1. She argued that some of the island’s food exporters had failed to provide all of the information required for registration and were thus unable to secure approval to export to China.
Zhu dismissed Taiwan’s concerns, saying that it was “normal for a country to protect its food safety.” She urged Taiwanese suppliers to complete filling the necessary information to register.
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, the chairman of the Taiwan People’s Party, called on Beijing to re-evaluate its import bans, warning that such a step could increase the Taiwanese people’s dislike of China and worsen already strained cross-strait relations.