China's import of custard apples is sparking fears in Taiwan

"First, China makes large purchases to show goodwill and encourage farmers to grow atemoyas. Next it unilaterally imposes export restrictions without warning," the Taiwanese agriculture ministry said in its press release. The statement noted that China suspended imports of atemoyas in 2021, citing pest concerns, before partially resuming imports in 2023 and then slapping taxes on the fruit in 2024.Such moves "cause the industry to face huge instability and farmers to bear great risks," the ministry said. It added that China has also been expanding its own atemoya cultivation, posing a threat to Taiwan's local industry.The growing debate over the export of Taiwanese atemoyas started earlier this month, after Chinese companies pledged to buy more of the fruit at a forum in China's Xiamen city - a coastal city on the Taiwan-strait" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="5508" data-entity-type="location">Taiwan Strait. This was part of a broader plan to expand purchases of Taiwanese exports to China, including fish and tea.The forum was attended by business leaders and opposition politicians from Taiwan, despite an official ban on participation by Taiwan's central government.Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council spokesperson has since warned that officials who attended the forum could be investigated.In its statement, Taiwan's agriculture ministry said authorities would focus on "sustainable agricultural development and stable income for farmers", and "continue to guide the atemoya industry toward diversified processing", including by producing frozen fruit products, puree and wines.