Lithuanian exports nearly obliterated from China market amid Taiwan row

Chinese customs data gives first glimpse of the scale of unofficial blockade, with 91.4 per cent drop in shipments from the Baltic state in December

Beijing denies an official embargo, telling EU sources local businesses will not buy goods from countries that ‘attack China’s sovereignty’

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A shipment of Lithuanian rum destined for the Chinese mainland arrives at the Taiwanese port of Keelung this week, after concerns it was about to be blocked by customs. Photo: Handout

Published: 10:34am, 21 Jan 2022Updated: 5:42pm, 21 Jan 2022

Lithuania’s exports to China suffered a near-total collapse in December, amid a blazing row over the Baltic state’s support for Taiwan.

Chinese government customs data released on Thursday showed shipments from Lithuania to China dropped by 91.4 per cent last month from a year earlier.

Compared to November 2021, the drop was 91.1 per cent, offering support to Lithuanian exporters’ complaints that they have been frozen out of the Chinese market in recent weeks.

The dispute centres on Lithuania’s decision to host a controversially named diplomatic mission from the self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing regards as part of its territory. Such presences are commonly called Taipei Representative Offices.

Beijing reacted with fury when the Taiwanese Representative Office opened in Vilnius in November and soon afterwards businesses said Lithuania had been wiped from the Chinese customs system, meaning they were unable to fulfil shipments.

Just US$3.8 million worth of Lithuanian goods entered Chinese ports last month, compared to US$43.1 million a year earlier, or US$42.8 million just a month earlier.

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