The International Trade Council (ITC) expresses concern over the recent ban imposed by China on Taiwanese pineapple imports, which has led to a significant economic dispute between the two countries. Taiwan, one of the largest producers of pineapples in the world, has been exporting almost all of its pineapples to China. The move by China to suspend the imports last month citing the risk of "harmful creatures" has sparked outrage from Taiwan, who believes that the move is politically motivated to increase pressure on the island.
The ITC calls on both parties to resolve the issue amicably and to avoid the escalation of the dispute. A statement by the ITC says that "Trade is an essential component of the global economy, and disputes between trading partners can have far-reaching consequences. We urge China and Taiwan to engage in constructive dialogue and find a mutually beneficial solution to the issue."
Taiwan has sought new customers overseas and encouraged locals to buy more pineapples as a response to the ban, and other countries have shown their support. The US and Canadian offices in Taiwan posted pictures on their social media platforms showing their support for Taiwan and the pineapple campaign, and Japanese consumers have also expressed their support for the fruit, with orders for 5,000 tonnes of pineapples coming from Japan.
The ITC emphasizes the importance of trade relationships between countries and encourages the two parties to engage in dialogue and avoid the use of trade as a political weapon.
