China suspends Lithuanian beef as Taiwan row grows
BEIJING/VILNIUS (Reuters) -China suspended imports of beef, dairy and beer from Lithuania this week, Lithuania’s veterinary control agency said on Thursday, amid a growing trade dispute over the Baltic nation’s relations with Taiwan.
China’s General Administration of Customs had informed the country it was halting the exports due to “lack of documentation”, the agency said in a statement.
It added that “this is first such notification we ever received, because the importing countries usually start by asking for any missing information”.
The Chinese agency said earlier on Thursday it had stopped imports of Lithuanian beef but gave no specific reason.
Relations frayed after Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy in its capital Vilnius last year, angering Beijing which regards the democratically-ruled island as its own territory.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Wednesday during a visit to Australia that nations seeking to use trade as a retaliatory measure must be reminded that “like-minded countries have tools and regulations that help withstand the coercion”.
Britain said on Monday it will join the United States and Australia in backing an EU trade case against China at the World Trade Organization over Beijing’s alleged trade curbs on Lithuania.
By Dominique Patton, Andrius Sytas / Reuters
Read full article Share on twitter