China suspends tariff concessions for over 130 more Taiwanese products

China announces that it will suspend tariff relief for 134 Taiwanese products starting June 15. Following the inauguration of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, Beijing appears to be increasing pressure on Taiwan’s economy.

The Chinese government announced on Friday that the preferential tariffs currently applicable to these goods, set out in the framework agreement on economic cooperation between the two countries, would be suspended.

Beijing noted that Taiwan had unilaterally imposed discriminatory restrictions on products from China. It pointed out that these restrictions violated the pact and had not been lifted.

The bilateral agreement, which is a free trade agreement, was signed in 2010. The aim of the pact was to further liberalise trade.

The latest move is an extension of a measure China had already taken before. In January, Beijing began suspending tariff concessions. Since then, concessions have been suspended on 12 items.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office criticized Lai’s government for its “pro-independence” stance, noting that the government had instigated confrontations between the two countries and attempted to separate their economies.

Lai was sworn in as President of Taiwan on May 20. He rejects what Beijing calls the “one-China principle.”

China conducted two days of military exercises near Taiwan last week, apparently in response to Lai’s inauguration.