The Chinese mainland on Monday scrapped tariffs on 22 varieties
of fruit from Taiwan, four more than the previous number announced
by the central government.
The four new fruits added to the list are oranges, lemons,
pitayas and Hami melons. Eleven varieties of vegetable were also
given open access to the mainland market Monday.
Meanwhile, seafood netted by Taiwan fishing boats will be
allowed to be sold in the coastal Fujian Province subject to the
same trading policies for mainland catches and without the
requirement of Taiwan quarantine certificates.
The mainland will take more measures to reduce transportation
costs of Taiwan agricultural produce, for instance, reducing or
abolishing freeway charges for trucks transporting Taiwan
products.
Preferential policies for Taiwan farmers showed the mainland's
sincerity in helping them sell their products and promoting
cross-Strait agricultural exchanges and cooperation, said Yu
Yongwei, director of the Cross-Straits Association of Agricultural
Exchanges.
"The mainland will try its best as long as it's beneficial to
cross-Straits agricultural exchanges. We mean what we say and our
commitment is steadfast," he said.
The mainland's General Administration of Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine also pledged to streamline quarantine
procedures for Taiwan agricultural products.
Statistics show that Taiwan exported 3,400 tons of fruit to the
mainland last year, with a value of US$3.22 million and an increase
of 35 percent from 2004, despite a drop in fruit production in
Taiwan due to typhoons and rainstorms.
(Xinhua News Agency May 2, 2006)