Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office Photo:VCG

The Chinese mainland on Wednesday announced that it will suspend the import tariff exemption policy for 34 agricultural products, including fresh fruits, vegetables and aquatic products, originating in the Taiwan region, effective from September 25. 

The Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council stated that the Taiwan region has unilaterally adopted discriminatory prohibitions and restrictions on exports of mainland products, which has seriously hindered cross-Straits economic and trade cooperation, according to a statement published on its website on Wednesday.

The Chinese mainland exempted import tariffs on 34 agricultural products originating from the Taiwan region in two batches starting from August 1, 2005 and March 20, 2007. Taiwan's farmers and fishermen have gained tangible benefits from these exemptions, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday.

However, since the Lai Ching-te authority took office, it has stubbornly adhered to the separatist stance of "Taiwan independence," and continuously made provocations by seeking "Taiwan independence," escalating cross-Straits hostility and confrontation, and hindering cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation, said Chen.

The Taiwan region still unilaterally restricts the import of more than 1,000 agricultural products from the mainland, seriously damaging the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Straits, Chen stressed.

Chen noted that the mainland will continue to welcome and support Taiwan farmers and compatriots to develop in the mainland. Chen also called for Taiwan compatriots to recognize the extreme danger and harm of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' pursuit of "Taiwan independence" secession and work together with their mainland compatriots for the long-term well-being of the Chinese nation.

According to the tariff exemption lists previously posted by the commission, imports from the island of Taiwan that enjoyed zero tariffs included fruits such as coconut and some seafood products and vegetables. 

In May, the Chinese mainland announced that starting from June 15, it would terminate preferential tariff rates for 134 import items from the island of Taiwan stipulated in the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, and the DPP authorities bear full responsibility for the move.