Government may file appeal with the WTO over Chinese ban on Taiwanese seafood

Government may file appeal with the WTO over Chinese ban on Taiwanese seafood

2022-12-09

The Council of Agriculture says it is considering getting the World Trade Organization involved, after China suspended seafood imports from more than 100 Taiwanese companies.Earlier this year, China changed its customs rules with a requirement that all companies needed to register their products before they were granted permission to export to China. The council says Taiwan was given a considerable shorter timeline to adapt to the changes, and that so far only one seafood company has been able to obtain permission. It says it may file an appeal with the WTO on the grounds that China’s new registration system is in fact an administrative trade barrier.

Earlier this year, China introduced new rules for its imports, requiring all food exporters to register their products with the Chinese government. Since then, more than 100 Taiwanese seafood companies and fishing firms have sent the required documents to China. But according to the official webpage of China’s General Administration of Customs, only one company has been granted permission so far. That has put Taiwan’s seafood exports to China on halt.

Chen Chi-chung
Council of Agriculture
They put tougher regulations in place for us. They wanted us to submit the necessary documentation before the end of August. For other countries, the deadline was June 30, 2023. I think this can be considered an administrative trade barrier by the WTO.

According to the Council of Agriculture, the products affected by the measures are worth about NT$6.5 billion. Squid products alone account for more than NT$3 billion of the total. Other products affected include fourfinger threadfin, skipjack tuna and Pacific saury.

Mr. Hsieh
Fish farmer
To be honest, we rely on China. Domestic consumption can only take you so far.

Chen Chi-chung
Council of Agriculture
We hope that the Food and Drug Administration under the Ministry of Health and Welfare will be able to enquire about this registration process with China’s General Administration of Customs, and ask about which documents are needed. We will also launch all necessary response measures. There’ll be different approaches for squid, Pacific saury and fourfinger threadfin. To a certain extent, this is an administrative trade barrier. We may consider making an appeal with the WTO.

Taiwan says it may file an appeal with the WTO over the disparity in regulations. Over on the official website of China’s General Administration of Customs, Taiwanese exporters who had licenses valid to operate until next year or the year after are now listed as “suspended.” Business leaders say they fear the impact this will have on their finances.

Hsueh Jui-yuan
Health minister
We will communicate more closely with China, but we may not get a response. It’s often this way with China. It bans you from bringing things in without a prior warning, agreement or a buffer period. It just does it like that.

Amid China’s continued targeting of Taiwanese seafood products, the Council of Agriculture is getting ready to launch emergency response measures. Officials say the specifics will be announced once they are finalized.