Taiwan threatens WTO action after China stops grouper fish imports

Chinese language and Taiwanese printed flags are seen on this illustration taken, April 28, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

TAIPEI, June 11 (Reuters) – Taiwan’s authorities threatened to take Beijing to the World Commerce Group on Saturday after China suspended the import of grouper fish from the island saying it had detected banned chemical compounds, the newest agricultural spat between the 2.

Final yr China suspended imports of pineapples, sugar apples and wax apples from Taiwan, citing considerations about pests, which Taiwan strongly denied.

Relations between Taipei and Beijing, which claims democratically dominated Taiwan as its personal territory, are at their lowest in many years, with China rising political and army stress to get the island to just accept its sovereignty.

China’s customs administration stated late Friday it had repeatedly detected banned chemical compounds in grouper from Taiwan and would droop their import from Monday “with a purpose to forestall dangers and defend the well being and lives of customers”.

Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung dismissed the accusation, saying there was nothing improper with the fish and they’d present knowledge to China and request a response from them.

If China doesn’t reply then Taiwan will not rule out taking the difficulty to the WTO, he advised reporters.

Cupboard spokesman Lo Ping-cheng stated that China has been repeatedly boycotting and blocking Taiwanese agricultural and aquatic merchandise “in a way inconsistent with worldwide practices”.

This not solely harms relations between Taiwan and China “but in addition makes the Taiwanese individuals much more disgusted by the Chinese language Communist Get together authorities’ wanton suppression of Taiwan”.

Whereas most Taiwanese grouper is consumed at residence, China accounts for some 90% of the exported product.

Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Extra reporting by Shanghai newsroom
Modifying by Shri Navaratnam

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