Taiwan Mulls over Lifting Ban on Agricultural Imports from the Mainland

Taiwan Mulls over Lifting Ban on Agricultural Imports from the Mainland

Source: United Daily News

December 25, 2015

The 13^th round of consultations on the cross-Strait Merchandise Trade Agreement (MTA), originally scheduled for December 25, has now been postponed. Lin Chu-chia (林祖嘉), Deputy Minister and spokesman of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), stated yesterday that both sides were still exchanging views on the relevant issues and hoped that arrangements for the 13^th round of consultations could be finalized as soon as possible. According to an informed source, in order to demonstrate goodwill to Beijing, the government plans to conditionally lift the ban on the importation of 830 types of agricultural products from the Mainland which are allowed to be imported from foreign countries. It is widely believed that this decision will facilitate progress on arranging the next round of MTA consultations.  

According to media reports, Taiwan will consider lifting the ban on the importation of 830 types of agricultural products from the Mainland if the following conditions are met. First, Taiwan does not grow the products and there is great demand for said products. Second, importing such products will not impact the livelihood of Taiwan farmers. Third, importing such products brings concrete benefits.

It is believed that products imported from foreign countries, such as chocolate, apples, cherries, avocadoes, grapefruit, rambutan, pear scion, and wheat, may be allowed to be imported from the Mainland. However, Taiwan will not lift the ban on the importation of politically sensitive products, such as rice and peanuts, from the Mainland. 

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