Mainland China resumes Taiwanese pomelo imports, ending 2-year ban
Curbs on Taiwanese pomelos by mainland China were imposed in 2022 in the wake of the visit by then-US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi
Customs authorities in mainland China lifted a ban on imports of Taiwanese pomelos that had been in place for two years following an improvement in the quality of the grapefruit-like product.
The suspension had been imposed in August 2022 due to the detection of pests and positive coronavirus tests, according to the General Administration of Customs.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.
But on Monday, Taiwan’s Ministry of Agriculture said that measures would be in place to ensure the harvest and selection of pomelos met mainland China’s pesticide residue regulations, while shipments of the fruit would also be free of insects.
Pomelos are a staple during the Mid-Autumn Festival, with the three-day holiday taking place in mainland China later this month.
The pronunciation of pomelo in Chinese is believed to be identical to the word for bless.
