According to Minister of Agriculture Chen Chi-chung, the agricultural export value to China this year has hit a new low of 9.1 percent of total agricultural exports, following Beijing’s ban on Taiwanese mangoes. On Monday, China announced a suspension of mango imports from Taiwan, “once again flouting international norms” by failing to engage in scientific dialogue, Chen declared.
However, the main markets for mango exports have in recent years shifted toward Japan, South Korea and other countries, exemplifying a general trend away from China, he said. Due to their over-reliance on one market, agricultural products have in recent years become a political tool used by Beijing to influence Taiwanese society.
The Ministry of Agriculture has therefore been working to diversify to other markets, thereby reducing exporters’ exposure, Chen said. The result has been a steady decline in export value bound for China, from 23.2 percent of the total in 2018, to 12.9 percent last year. China is now the fourth-largest market for the industry, surpassed by the US and Japan which account for 18.5 percent and 16.4 percent respectively.
Source: taipeitimes.com
