A view of the Taipei city, Taiwan island Photo: Unsplash

The trade restrictive measures the island of Taiwan imposed on the Chinese mainland constitute trade barriers, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Friday after a months-long trade barrier investigation based on relevant trade provisions.

In a brief statement on Friday, the MOFCOM said that in response to applications from several mainland-based industry associations, pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Foreign Trade Law and the Rules for Foreign Trade Barrier Investigations, it issued Announcement No. 11 of 2023 on April 12, deciding to initiate a trade barrier investigation into the measures implemented by the Taiwan region that prohibited the import of some mainland products.

Due to the complexity of the case, the ministry decided to extend the investigation period by three months on October 9. 

As the investigation concludes, based on the results and in accordance with Article 31 of the Rules for Foreign Trade Barrier Investigations, MOFCOM concludes that Taiwan's trade restrictions on the mainland fall under the circumstances specified in Article 3 of the Rules, constituting a trade barrier, read the statement.

The MOFCOM on April 12 launched a trade barriers investigation into the Taiwan region's trade restrictions imposed on more than 2,000 imports from the Chinese mainland, after reviewing a request made by three industry associations, including the China Chamber of Commerce of the I/E of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products.

Briefing on the progress in the trade probe, on August 17, Shu Jueting, a spokesperson for the MOFCOM, said that initial findings indicated the island's trade restrictions against goods from the Chinese mainland violated the non-discrimination principle and rule of general elimination of quantitative restrictions of the WTO.

“The investigation was clear, the evidence was sufficient, and the conclusions were objective and fair,” Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council, said on Friday.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority’s trade restrictions on the mainland do not align with the requirements of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) to promote normalization, institutionalization, and liberalization of economic relations across the Taiwan Straits, Zhu said, noting that the restrictions have caused harm to mainland-related industries and businesses, as well as affecting the interests of consumers in the island.

“We support the relevant authorities to work out appropriate measures based on relevant regulations and in consideration of the final conclusions of the investigation,” said Zhu.

Global Times