China suspends tariff concessions on 134 items under trade agreement with Taiwan

HONG KONG – China will reimpose tariffs on 134 goods it imports from Taiwan next month after the Finance Ministry announced it would suspend concessions granted on those goods under a trade agreement because Taiwan had not reciprocated concessions.

The China-Taiwan Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) was first signed in 2010.

China suspended tariff concessions on some products under the ECFA in December, but the Finance Ministry said the island had not taken any action in return.

“The Taiwan region has unilaterally taken discriminatory measures such as banning and restricting the export of mainland products, which violates the provisions of the (agreement),” the finance ministry said.

The suspension of tariff concessions will take effect from June 15 and will apply to products imported from Taiwan, including base oils, the ministry said.

The Mainland Affairs Council, which is responsible for Taiwan’s China policy, said in a statement that the ECFA agreement has brought benefits to companies on both sides since its signing.

“We call on the mainland to resolve differences through constructive dialogue that does not require political preconditions and to stop economic and trade pressure.”

China considers democratically governed Taiwan to be its own territory, a position rejected by the government in Taipei.

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office, said Taiwan has unilaterally imposed discriminatory trade restrictions on the export of more than 2,500 mainland products.

This violated the ECFA’s provisions on reducing or eliminating tariffs. REUTERS