China’s surprise ban on pineapple imports from Taiwan five months ago was widely viewed as an attempt to undermine President Tsai Ing-wen’s standing with a certain political constituency. Trade data show the move has produced anything but the desired effect.
First-half numbers collected by Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture show growers of the fruit on the island have fared better since China blocked imports, starting March 1, as sympathetic Japanese shoppers stepped in to provide support.
Shipments to Japan surged more than eightfold from a year ago, to 16,556 tons, in the four months through June. A domestic campaign to drum up demand also helped.