China has suspended imports of citrus fruits and some fisheries products from Taiwan and exports of natural sand to the island, Chinese officials said on Wednesday, amid a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. , to Taipei.
Spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Ma Xiaoguang said imports of grapefruit, lemons, oranges and other citrus fruits, as well as some frozen fish from Taiwan into China, had been suspended.
In a separate statement, Chinese Customs said the suspension of citrus fruit imports is a result of “pest control” and “excessive pesticide residues” and cited “Covid prevention” for the suspension of seafood imports.
Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Commerce also announced on Wednesday that it is immediately suspending its export of natural sand to Taiwan, a key component for the production of semiconductor chips.
In a statement following the announcement, Taiwan’s Bureau of Mining said suspending China’s sand exports would have a “limited” effect and that the island’s domestic demand for Chinese sand represents “less than 1%” in recent years.
Amid growing tensions with Taiwan in recent years, China had already banned imports of some products. Last year, China banned the trade in pineapples from the island, followed by some types of apples, citing “pest control”.
Earlier this year, it also banned Taiwanese grouper fish, citing detection of some banned drugs and excessive antibiotics.
China’s announcements coincide with Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. The US House leader said she wants to make it “unambiguously clear” that the US will not abandon the island.
Source: CNN Brasil
I am Sophia william, author of World Stock Market. I have a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and I have worked as a reporter for several news websites. I have a passion for writing and informing people about the latest news and events happening in the world. I strive to be accurate and unbiased in my reporting, and I hope to provide readers with valuable information that they can use to make informed decisions.
