Chen Jizhong, chairman of the Council of Agriculture.

(Photo by reporter Yang Yuanting)

[Reporter Yang Yuanting/Taipei Report] Chen Jizhong, chairman of the Council of Agriculture, said in an interview with our newspaper "What's the matter with me?" Shaokang questioned that the DPP is swearing at people while agreeing, thinking that the government is insane. Chen Jizhong said today (24th) that among the free trade contracts signed by countries around the world, which country will unilaterally suspend other countries many times like China? Therefore, in the face of such an unfriendly market, Taiwan must reduce its dependence and open up new markets.

Chen Jizhong attended the opening ceremony of Hope Plaza in Taipei today. After the meeting, he said that before Taiwan and China joined the WTO, there was no bilateral trade. It was not until 2002 that Taiwan and China entered the WTO. ECFA, and there are 18 items on the Early Harvest List of agricultural and fishery products. After the implementation in 2011, China adopted relatively simple quarantine measures. As a result, a large number of Taiwanese agricultural products were sold to China, resulting in a large reliance on the single market. But he wanted to ask, in the end Which country in the world has unilaterally suspended the import of agricultural products many times after signing free trade agreements with other countries?

He also questioned China's embargo on Taiwanese pineapples, custard apples, lotus root, grouper, white hairtail, jack mackerel, citrus fruits, etc. since March last year, and completely banned Taiwan's aquatic products on December 8. Does the country adopt so many product bans?"

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Chen Jizhong further pointed out that in order to reduce dependence on my country, an unfriendly single market, our country must of course develop emerging markets, as well as existing markets such as the United States and Japan. For example, in the export of Taiwan's agricultural products this year, the United States has become Taiwan's agricultural products. It is a major exporter, followed by Japan. In terms of fruit, Taiwan’s fruit sales to China accounted for about 80% of the total fruit in the past, and this year’s export volume is about 2%. Japan has become the largest market for Taiwan’s fruit export.

As the fruit is sold to the United States, Japan and other countries that are more willing to abide by international trade rules, the price of Taiwanese pineapples is better this year than last year, and the price per kilogram this year is 2 yuan more than last year. It is also maintained very well. For the recently affected fish species such as larvae, skipjack, squid, and saury, we will start production and sales adjustment measures including processing and freezing storage. We are also confident in maintaining prices and turning crises into opportunities.