The European Union has dropped its complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against China regarding restrictions on the import of Lithuanian goods, which were allegedly retaliation for strengthening the Baltic state's ties with Taiwan.
In a statement released on November 28, which was circulated at the WTO on Monday, the EU stated that it no longer considers it necessary to continue the dispute against China, as "the key objectives of this dispute have been achieved, and the relevant trade has been restored."
The European Union added that the decision to withdraw the complaint did not change its views on the dispute and that it will monitor the situation.
In January 2022, the EU initiated a dispute against China at the WTO, claiming that it had evidence of the refusal to clear Lithuanian goods at customs and the rejection of applications from Lithuania, as well as evidence of pressure from China on companies from other EU countries.
The dispute arose after Lithuania allowed the opening of a representative office of Taiwan in Vilnius, and in response, China temporarily downgraded diplomatic relations with Lithuania, effectively collapsing trade between Chinese and Lithuanian companies.
Beijing has always publicly denied the existence of an embargo, claiming that Chinese enterprises simply decided not to purchase goods from countries that "attacked China's sovereignty."
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