Following China’s sudden ban on imports of mangoes from Taiwan, Minister of Agriculture Chen Chi-Chung responded to the press today, claiming that the ban has limited impact in Taiwan’s economy, since China’s export volume only accounts for 0.05% of Taiwan’s total mango production.
The ban is widely regarded as another wave of China’s “fruit diplomacy” towards Taiwan, with which previously in 2021, China suddenly suspended the imports of pineapples after citing pests’ inspection, resulting in Taiwan’s agricultural sector suffering from a severe loss of 1.5 billion dollars, as China took up nearly 90% of Taiwan’s pineapples export market at that time.
Regarding the ban on mango imports this time, Minister of Agriculture Chen Chi-Chung said Taiwan’s annual mango production is 170,000 metric tons, with approximately 1,000 metric tons exported to China per year, roughly accounting for 0.05% of Taiwan's annual mango production.
Chen also emphasized that Taiwanese mangos are primarily for domestic consumption, making them a fruit with “internal demand”. This has shielded the agricultural economy from being impacted by China’s imports ban, he said.
Source: international.thenewslens.com
