China’s stance towards Lithuanian companies has been softening for some time now, Vidmantas Janulevicius, president of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LPK), has said.
“There has been lately a certain softening toward the export of Lithuanian goods to China,” Janulevicius said.
According to him, talks have started about resuming exports of Lithuanian goods to China.
“Food product and beverage exports from Lithuania to China have not begun yet, but some talks are getting underway with importers who used to import Lithuanian beverages and food,” the LPK president said.
“Only specific electronic tools and equipment, and some lasers are going to China now. But the key goods, which amounted to almost 350 million euros, have not really moved yet,” he added.
Talking about imports from China, he said that there had also been a softening in recent months, and “some Lithuanian companies can import much more components”.
Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda also said that China was changing its position after meeting with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Davos on January 17.
In 2021, Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open its representative office in Vilnius under the island’s name.
In response, Beijing downgraded diplomatic ties with Vilnius and blocked Lithuanian exports and imports. This led the European Union to take the matter to the WTO early last year. (LRT/Business World Magazine)