Taiwan to maintain ban on China agricultural imports

Taiwan will maintain its restrictions on the importation of 830 agricultural products from China.

This was reiterated by Taiwan's deputy minister of the Council of Agriculture on Monday (Feb 1).

President Ma Ying-jeou has never been in favour of lifting the ban on the agricultural products from China, said Hu Hsin-hua, adding that the president has given a clear directive for the restrictions to remain in place to protect the interests of local farmers.

In last week's first round of cross-strait talks on a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA), China asked Taiwan to open its market to the banned agricultural products. Based on an academic study, at least 290,000 farmers in Taiwan will lose their income if the restrictions are lifted.

Hu said the assessment was based on the assumption that Taiwan would fully open its market to Chinese agriculture products. However, such an assumption is groundless because it is not in line with the government's firm stance to maintain the current ban, Hu said.

Agricultural issues will not be put on the agenda for negotiation between the two sides until after they have signed the ECFA, he stressed. At that time, it will be up to the people to decide whether or not to open the market wider to Chinese agricultural products, he added.