The EU declares its readiness to confront China in its dispute with Lithuania

“The EU has received information that Chinese customs are not accepting Lithuanian cargo and that Lithuania’s import applications are being rejected,” said a joint statement by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Joseph Borel and European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis.

They said the EU was gathering more information and had asked the Chinese authorities to clarify the situation soon.
“The EU stands ready to face any kind of political pressure and coercive measures against any Member State,” the statement said.

“China’s bilateral relations with individual member states also affect overall EU-China relations,” he added.

Both officials said the EU would turn to the World Trade Organization if information confirmed that China was blocking Lithuanian exports.

The announcement was made on the day the EC announced plans to use its new powers with trade instruments to respond quickly to attempts by foreign governments to put pressure on EU or bloc members.

It has already been reported that Lithuania’s decision to establish closer relations with Taiwan has caused a crisis in the bilateral relations between Vilnius and Beijing, which is already being felt by Lithuanian businessmen. Beijing is outraged by Lithuania’s decision to allow Taiwan to establish a representation in Lithuania, using the word “Taiwan” in its name, as China seeks to prevent any attempt by Taiwan to act as an independent state.

Elsewhere in the world, such representations use the name “Taipei” as Taiwan’s capital, in line with Beijing’s “one China” policy, which does not allow Taiwan to be considered a separate country.

On December 2, the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists announced that Lithuania had been removed from China’s electronic customs declaration system, preventing businesses from exporting their goods to the country.

Lithuanian companies were reported to have returned to the Chinese customs system on Tuesday, but it is unknown whether the situation has been resolved.