China rejects shipments of coffee and macadamia from Guatemala from May 2024.
Context
On May 23, 2024, the Guatemalan exporters association (AGEXPORT) stated that seven or more containers of the country’s macadamia nut exports were refused entry to China, and that it had been informally told that the country’s macadamia buts and coffee would be thereafter prevented from passing customs in China. In a statement, AGEXPORT said that “[i]n recent days, clients and brokers in Mainland China have informed coffee and macadamia producers and exporters that shipments from Guatemala will be retained in the ports of the Asian country” because of “a prohibition imposed on imports from our country”.
On May 24, the President of Guatemala, Bernardo Arevalo, confirmed the issue, and alleged that there could be a connection between this incident and Guatemala’s political support for Taiwan. Speaking via TikTok, President Arevalo said that “[a]s you know, the inauguration of the new Taiwanese government, which Guatemala has ties with, was a few days ago,” adding that “[t]here could be some dispute with China related to this.”
Impact
According to the Guatemalan exporters association, in 2023 Guatemalan exports to China were worth around US$82 million. Overall, before these measures China reportedly accounted for around 13% of Guatemala’s exports. One media report suggested that “[t]he Chinese import ban is estimated to cost Guatemalan suppliers millions of dollars U.S.”
Responses
i) Guatemalan government and industry responses.
Guatemala’s foreign ministry initially stated that it was not providing “comments in this regard”, but subsequently stated that while “it has not received official notification of any prohibition imposed on imports from Guatemala by the Chinese government”, it was engaging in “pertinent procedures and consultations” to establish a “prompt solution” to the incident.
The head of the Guatemalan Congress’ Economics Committee, Jorge Ayala, reportedly called on the country’s government to support the impacted export firms, and reportedly called for active cooperation between the government and AGEXPORT to protect domestic businesses.
(ii) Chinese government and industry responses
When asked about these measures by international media on May 24, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin denied knowledge of the incident, before reaffirming the ‘One China’ principle, and noting that “[t]here’s no diplomatic relations between China and Guatemala.” At the same time, Wang “condemn[ed]” Guatemala’s involvement in the inauguration of the new Taiwanese president, and said that “[s]uch situation is not conducive to the cooperation between Guatemala and China, including Guatemala’s export to China. We hope relevant officials will recognize the trend of the world and proceed from the interests of the country and the people to make the right decision soon which serves its people’s interests”.
In December 2024, the Chinese government issued a statement declaring the previous detection of quarantine pests and other non-compliance issues in multiple shipments of Guatemalan timer and coffee beans.
(iii) Other government and industry responses
In June 2024 the foreign minister of Taiwan, Lin Chia-lung, called on businesses in Taiwan to buy Guatemalan coffee in support of their diplomatic partner. And in July 2024 the Guatemalan vice foreign minister, Julio Orozco, took part in an event in Taiwan to promote Guatemalan coffee through a pre-recorded message, in which he stated that Guatemalan coffee is the “second most requested Guatemalan product by the Taiwanese after sugar.”
Status
There is no English language media reporting to suggest that these measures have been rescinded. Guatemala and Paraguay remain the only Latin American states to maintain official ties with Taiwan.
Reference list
AFP. 2024. “China Bans Guatemala’s Coffee and Macadamia Imports.” The Tico Times. May 24. Available at: https://ticotimes.net/2024/05/24/china-bans-guatemalas-coffee-and-macadamia-imports
CNA. 2024. “Guatemala minister says closer trade strengthens Taiwan ties.” Focus Taiwan. July 8. Available at: https://focustaiwan.tw/business/202407080009
Käufer, T. 2024. “Latin American anger grows over China’s economic clout.” DW. June 5. Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/latin-american-anger-grows-over-chinas-economic-clout/a-69269274
Lee, C. 2024. “Guatemala faces Chinese export ban after Taiwan presidential inauguration.” Taiwan News. May 27. Available at: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/ news/5877095
Menchu, S., and Blanchard, B. 2024. “China’s rejection of Guatemalan shipments could be related to Taiwan ties, Guatemala president says.” Reuters. May 25. Available at:
Wang, W. 2024. “Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on May 24, 2024.” Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Bandar Abbas. May 24. http://abbas.china-consulate.gov.cn/eng/wjbfyrth/202405/t20240524_11311249.htm
Xinhua. 2024. “China hopes Guatemalan officials will make right decision.” China Daily. May 25. Available at: https://www.chinadailyhk.com/hk/article/584065
General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China. 2024. ‘Notice on suspending imports on Guatemalan timber and coffee beans’ [关于暂停进口危地马拉木材, 咖啡豆的通知]. December 9. Available at: http://search.customs.gov.cn/search/pcRender?pageId=f5261418ddc74f03b27e3590c531102b&q=%E5%8D%B1%E5%9C%B0%E9%A9%AC%E6%8B%89&ext=siteId:300632&sr=score%20desc
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, ‘Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wenbin, held a regular press conference on 24 May 2024’ [2024年5月24日外交部发言人汪文斌主持例行记者会] (24 May 2024), available at: https://www.mfa.gov.cn/web/wjdt_674879/zcjd/202405/t20240524_11311210.shtml.
Lianhe Zaobao. 2024. ‘Guatemala coffee beans and macadamia were rejected by Chinese Customs. The President of Guatemala claimed that this was possibly related to the disputes around Taiwan’ [咖啡和夏威夷果被大陆禁入境 危地马拉总统: 或与台湾关系有关]. May 25. Available at: https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20240525-3722239.