The government is leaving no stone unturned in helping Taiwan’s food exporters adjust to China’s new customs regulations, according to Executive Yuan Spokesperson Lo Ping-cheng Dec. 10.
Lo’s statement followed the recent decision by China to halt several fishery exports as well as alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages from Taiwan due to local exporters’ difficulty complying with its new customs registration rules.
According to Lo, the new rules were announced April 12, 2021, and took effect Jan. 1 this year. Taiwan, Japan, the EU and the U.S. have repeatedly raised concerns over the issue to the World Trade Organization’s Technical Barriers to Trade Committee and demanded China halt or postpone the new regulations.
Lo said the changes are particularly discriminatory against Taiwan, as entities in other countries can submit their applications online before June 30, 2023, while those from Taiwan could only submit paper applications and had to do so before June 30 this year.
The Council of Agriculture and Ministries of Economic Affairs, Finance, and Health and Welfare are all doing their best to help local exporters register with China’s relevant authorities. So far only a quarter of submissions have been approved, with nearly all the rest rejected without any explanation.
At the same time, Lo said an export promotion project that offers financing and helps local firms enhance their competitiveness and sales strategies was implemented in August. As of Dec. 10, the initiative has helped nearly 1,700 firms secure NT$1.75 billion (US$57.15 million) in business in countries across North and South America, Asia and Europe, he added.
Lo said the government will keep working with other countries to demand that China lift the trade barriers, while continuing to aid Taiwan food exporters to minimize the negative impact of the new rules. (SFC-E)
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