Lithuania says China is blocking its exports over Taiwan row
- The row centres on Vilnius’s decision to allow Taiwan to open a representative office under its own name
- China has already downgraded diplomatic ties with Lithuania and stopped issuing visas in the Baltic EU state in protest
Lithuania on Friday said mainland China was blocking its exports in a row over the opening of a representative office for Taiwan in Lithuanian capital Vilnius earlier this year.
China has already downgraded diplomatic ties with Lithuania and stopped issuing visas in the Baltic EU state in protest.
“We regret the decision of the Chinese authorities,” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told reporters.
Several Lithuanian companies and business leaders complained that their goods were not clearing customs in China.
Vidmantas Janulevicius, president of Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, told local media he knew of five companies facing such a problem.
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“Lithuania is excluded from the customs system. It seems that such a country does not exist in the Chinese customs system any more,” Janulevicius said.