TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Importing motorbikes from China is banned, even if the vehicles have been dismantled and are imported as parts, Economics Minister Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) said Wednesday.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs said that after noticing social media posts, it sent investigators to a site in New Taipei on Friday and Tuesday to confiscate motorbikes built with parts imported from China. The bikes had been dismantled in China, sent over separately as parts, and then reassembled in Taiwan, the ministry said.
The import of Chinese motorbikes or their parts is not allowed by existing laws, Kung said Wednesday. He added that any move to open up imports would have to be preceded by trade talks between the two countries, per CNA.
The importer in the New Taipei case may be hit with an import ban from two months to one year, or with the cancellation of his registration as an importer and exporter, the ministry said. A vehicle taking to the road without the necessary permits could also face confiscation.
The ministry called on the public to be careful when buying a motorbike, and to check the origin of the vehicle and the required import documents.
