China Partially Lifts Ban on Korean ProductsSouth Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Wednesday China had partially lifted its ban on Korean mobile phones and polyethylene imports it imposed last month in retaliation for Korea's ban on Chinese garlic."The Chinese government ordered its customs authorities to allow Korean mobile phones and polyethylene imports that shipped before June 8 to pass through the customs," said a ministry official. He said such polyethylene imports awaiting clearance at Chinese customs amounted to 28,000 tonnes worth about $18.7 million. The ministry did not give figures for Korean mobile phones that were also awaiting clearance. Chinese and South Korean officials had been in talks in a bid to resolve a trade dispute that has escalated from garlic to mobile phones. The row began when South Korea raised its preliminary import duty on Chinese garlic to 315 percent from 30 percent between November and May, saying a flood of Chinese imports was hurting local growers. On June 1, South Korea officially imposed the 315-percent import duty on Chinese garlic. Beijing retaliated on June 7 by banning Korean mobile phones and polyethylene imports. South Korea's local media said China's decision would likely to lead to an end to the month-long trade dispute any time soon. South Korea's mobile phone and polyethylene exports to China were worth more than $510 million last year. China's garlic exports to South Korea were valued at $9 million in 1999. |
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