China Partially Resumes Imports of Taiwanese Seafood... Easing Economic Pressure?

China has partially resumed imports of seafood products from Taiwan that were banned last August. This is interpreted as an attempt to ease the economic pressure imposed as a retaliatory measure against former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

On the 15th, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China announced the resumption of imports of refrigerated hairtail and frozen mackerel scad from Taiwan, which had been banned since June last year. Initially, the General Administration of Customs of China detected COVID-19 positive samples in Taiwan-exported hairtail and mackerel scad in June last year and suspended imports starting August 3.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding this measure, the General Administration of Customs explained, "To promote the healthy development of cross-strait trade, it has been decided to resume imports from the 15th."

Around former Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August last year, China intensified political and economic pressure on Taiwan. In addition to suspending imports of natural sand, citrus fruits, refrigerated hairtail, and frozen mackerel scad, China also imposed import bans on food products produced by over 100 Taiwanese companies. Although reasons such as detection of harmful substances, COVID-19 virus, and regulatory violations were cited, the timing suggests it was a warning response to Pelosi's visit.