A former Taiwan lawmaker has accused the Council of Agriculture of applying double standards in its dealings with China. The ex-legislator said that when New Zealand banned Taiwan''s lychee and mangoes in June, the COA expressed respect for the decision. But when China banned Taiwan''s wax apples and sugar apples, the COA threatened to sue, he said. The COA has emphatically denied the charge.

Chen Chi-chung
Agriculture minister
The one applying double standards is China, not Taiwan. We are dealing with the New Zealand issue, which is a very different matter from China’s fruit inspection. The issue with New Zealand involves fruit flies – it’s the codling moth, which grows inside fruit. The risks involved with that are much greater than that of scale insects. Most countries in the world have adopted import restrictions against fruit flies. But no country has ever used the issue of scale insects to restrict imports. In the past, China also banned the import of Thailand’s longan fruit, because of scale insects. After the relevant data was provided, trade was restored. Why is it that Taiwan gets a blanket ban? I think that this is a typical example of how it is China applying double standards, not Taiwan.

The minister said New Zealand suspended Taiwan imports only after engaging in talks with Taiwan. But China had rejected Taiwan''s fruit unilaterally, with no communication. He said that Taiwan was fully prepared to support its farmers, with help in marketing and product processing.