Taipei: Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) warned Sunday that China is not a stable or reliable export market, following Beijing's announcement of plans to purchase Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products during a cross-Taiwan Strait forum in Xiamen a day earlier. As part of measures unveiled in April, mainland enterprises signed procurement agreements with Taiwanese businesses and trade associations at the annual Straits Forum in Xiamen on Saturday.
According to Focus Taiwan, these agreements include purchases of Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products such as atemoyas, pomelos, tea, and grouper, although no financial details of the deals were provided. While the MOA did not explicitly state it would block these deals, it expressed disapproval, emphasizing the need for diversified markets with stable demand that adhere to international trade rules and scientific standards.
The MOA highlighted Taiwan's previous heavy reliance on the Chinese market, noting Beijing's repeated suspension of imports of Taiwanese agricultural products without justification in recent years. Furthermore, Beijing has declined to engage in scientific consultations with Taiwan and has attached political conditions to the resumption of imports.
The ministry criticized China for using an approval system as a means of restricting imports, referencing a 2022 Chinese regulation that requires overseas food producers to obtain prior approval before entering the Chinese market. Taiwan has submitted a list of qualified exporters through a formal mechanism established under a cross-Taiwan Strait agricultural quarantine cooperation agreement, yet Beijing has not provided a formal response. Instead, it has selectively approved some Taiwanese companies without explanation, which the MOA described as an arbitrary import barrier.
Given such uncertainties, the MOA asserted that China cannot be regarded as a stable overseas market for Taiwan in the long term. The ministry urged Beijing to resume quarantine consultations and restore imports of Taiwanese agricultural products based on scientific principles. It also pledged to continue efforts to strengthen supply chains and expand into premium overseas markets.
The MOA cited progress in diversifying export destinations, mentioning new market access for products like pineapples to Australia and New Zealand and red-fleshed dragon fruit and hybrid grouper to Japan. It also noted exports of pomelos to Malaysia, pork products to the Philippines and Singapore, and various fruits to the European Union.
The concerns over China's market reliability are based on experience, as illustrated by fruit export trends. According to foreign trade statistics, Taiwan's exports of fresh fruit to China and Hong Kong totaled about US$30.49 million in 2024 but plummeted to US$14.62 million in 2025. However, this figure rebounded to US$13.15 million in the first five months of 2026, marking a 33 percent year-over-year increase, as per International Trade Administration statistics.
In contrast, Taiwan's fresh fruit exports to Japan have remained stable, highlighting the challenges for Taiwanese farmers in finding alternative markets to China. Despite government efforts to diversify, achieving full compensation for market gaps left by issues with China remains challenging.