Mainland China resumes imports of Taiwanese sugar apples after 2-year ban despite cross-strait tensions

Mainland China banned imports of Taiwanese sugar apples in 2021 over biosafety fears and possible pests, while Taiwan said the claims lacked ‘scientific proof’

Taiwan businesses are pushing for further lifting of fruit import bans by mainland China, sources told the Post

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Taitung county magistrate Rao Ching-ling (centre) poses with National Taitung University Professor Lee Chun-lin (to her left) and representatives from the sugar apple trade with signs advocating the fruit is safe to eat. Photo: Taitung county government

Published: 4:30pm, 20 Jun 2023Updated: 5:28pm, 20 Jun 2023

Mainland China resumed imports of sugar apples from Taiwan from Tuesday, ending a ban that had been in place since 2021 and pushing aside political frictions.

It came after a meeting with mainland officials and a Taiwanese county magistrate and the vice-chairman of the island’s opposition Kuomintang party over the weekend, with businesses in Taiwan pushing for further lifting of import bans imposed by Beijing, sources told the Post.

The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council in Beijing confirmed the lifting of the ban after mainland China had cut off imports of the sweet fruit, that is also known as atemoya or custard apples, in September 2021.

Mainland Chinese officials previously pointed to biosafety fears and possible pests, while Taiwan said the claims lacked “scientific proof”.

Kuomintang party vice-chairman Andrew Hsia and Taitung county magistrate Rao Ching-ling had expressed a “strong wish” to resume the trade during the meeting over the weekend, said Taiwan Affairs Office spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian.

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