The Council of Agriculture (COA) yesterday said it is seeking to find an alternative for the processing of NT$6 billion (US$195.94 million) of seafood exports and bolster domestic sales, after the Chinese General Administration of Customs only granted an import permit for one Taiwanese producer, while declining all other applications from the nation.
If the issue cannot be resolved, the council does not rule out filing a complaint with the WTO, COA Minister Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲) said.
However, the council could also ask the Chinese agency whether Taiwanese producers should add further documents to their applications, he said.
Photo: CNA
It could also implement contingency measures for the species of fish affected, including fourfinger threadfin, squid, Pacific saury and skipjack tuna, Chen added.
China has since March last year imposed a series of bans on Taiwanese produce and seafood, prompting some fishers to seek new sales channels in other countries and in the domestic market.
Domestic sales of fourfinger threadfin has almost doubled since 2020, Chen said.
Most of Taiwan’s skipjack tuna exports are shipped to South Korea or Japan, he said.
As Taiwan used to export squid and Pacific saury to China for processing, the nation would continue to look for processing partners in Southeast Asia, for example in Thailand, Chen said.
The council would also offer subsidies for operators of frozen storage facilities and exporters, he said, adding that it would announce the measures as soon as possible.
China in April last year asked importers to register their shipments through a new system, granting companies — except Taiwanese ones — a grace period until June next year to gather the required documents. Taiwanese exporters had to send the required documents by August.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that China’s “sudden action” against Taiwan’s fishery industry is not conducive toward the normalization of cross-strait trade.
The government has instituted countermeasures to help safeguard the livelihood of Taiwanese fishers, Tsai said on the sidelines of an event to mark the 70th anniversary of the National 4H Club Association. Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said that China’s registration system contravenes WTO rules.
China’s strict attitude toward Taiwanese imports is inexplicable, Su said, citing China’s bans on Taiwanese pineapples, custard apples and grouper.
The government is petitioning the WTO over China’s practices, Su said, adding that it is also seeking new sales channels for fishers and farmers to mitigate their losses. Additional reporting by CNA
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