According to Taiwan media reports, the World Trade Organization confirmed yesterday that Taiwan's case of "specific trade concerns" in response to the mainland's suspension of the import of soursop (Shakya) and Lotus Mist has been included in the agenda of the regular meeting from November 3 to 5.
Fernando Puchol, information officer of the World Trade Organization (WTO), said yesterday in response to an inquiry from Taiwan's Central News Agency that Taiwan's "specific trade concern" (STC) in response to the suspension of fruit imports by Chinese mainland confirmed that it had been included in the agenda of the regular meeting of the WTO Food Safety Inspection and Animal and Plant Quarantine (SPS) Committee on November 3-5.
Puccio said that this topic will be discussed for the first time in a regular meeting. According to a person familiar with the WTO, this is the first time that Taiwan has raised "specific trade concerns" with the mainland in response to the fruit export case.
According to WTO rules, if the main reason for raising "specific trade concerns" is that the member fails to reach the outcome of bilateral consultations for a period of time, it can be raised at the SPS meeting, under which the other party is obliged to respond to questions and carry out bilateral communication at the venue, but if there is no response, the dispute settlement can be considered next.
In response to the DPP authorities' claim that the mainland's suspension of The importation of Shakya and Lotus Mist from Taiwan is "undermining international trade rules" and that they have lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization in this regard, Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said not long ago that the mainland and Taiwan belong to the same China, and that cross-strait affairs are internal affairs handled in accordance with the one-China principle. The relevant remarks made by the DPP authorities are precisely the political operations they have consistently sought for "independence."
Zhu Fenglian pointed out: On the one hand, the DPP authorities claim to "sit down and talk," and on the other hand, instead of taking timely measures to improve them, they politicize necessary measures that have a bearing on agricultural production, ecological security, and the people's vital interests, and take advantage of the opportunity to maliciously smear the mainland and incite cross-strait antagonism.
Some economists on the island have also pointed out that if the Taiwan region sues the mainland against the mainland for suspending Taiwan's imports of pineapples, shakyas, and lotus mist, will the mainland also complain to the WTO that Taiwan has banned the import of more than 600 agricultural products from the mainland? Which side has sufficient reasons and great odds? It is proposed that the cross-strait issue be resolved by both sides of the strait.
(Editing by Xue Yang)