Mainland China suspends tariff arrangements on 134 items under Taiwan trade deal
- Beijing’s decision to take effect from June 15, with chemical products, lithium-ion batteries, racing bikes, television cameras, certain woven fabrics and various machine tools among the 134 items
- Taiwan accused of having ‘failed’ to take any actions to remove trade restrictions on products from mainland China
Mainland China has announced the suspension of some preferential tariff arrangements under its only trade pact with Taiwan – taking a whack at the island’s chemical exports as Beijing continues responding to a “separatist” inauguration speech by the new Taiwanese leader.
The decision, announced on Friday, would take effect on 134 items under the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) from June 15, according to an online statement by the Customs Tariff Commission under the State Council in Beijing.
A host of chemicals, plus lithium-ion batteries, racing bikes, television cameras and woven fabrics, are among the 134 items. The mainland had suspended tariffs on 12 other items in December.
“Taiwan authorities failed to take any actions to remove its trade restrictions [on mainland China products],” the statement said.
“Taiwan’s unilateral adoption of discriminatory restrictions and prohibitions on the export of mainland products violates the provisions in the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement.”
The ECFA, which was signed in 2010, includes 806 items approved for tariff reductions and agreements to move forward on further trade liberalisation. Of the total, mainland China reduced tariffs that year on 539 items from Taiwan.
