China suspends Lithuanian beef imports as Taiwan row grows

China has suspended imports of beef from Lithuania since Wednesday, the General Administration of Customs said, amid a growing trade spat with the Baltic nation and its Western allies centred on Chinese-claimed Taiwan.

Customs did not give a reason for the suspension. The agency typically halt imports of meat if exporting nations report outbreaks of disease in livestock.

Lithuania has not reported any animal disease to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recently.

The move comes, however, after Britain said on Monday it will join the United States and Australia in backing an EU trade case against China at the World Trade Organisation, over Beijing’s alleged trade curbs on Lithuania.