TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) called on Taiwanese businesspeople to support Guatemala, one of Taiwan’s Central American allies, at the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce of North America’s (TCCNA) recent board of directors meeting.

Lin called in during the meeting to discuss the Chinese ban on Guatemalan coffee last month. He urged TCCNA members to help, Liberty Times reported. 

Taiwanese importers of Guatemalan coffee set up booths at the meeting for participants to sample. 

Guatemalan Exporters Association (AGEXPORT) said on May 23 that China stopped imports of coffee beans and macadamia nuts from the Central American nation. 

Beijing blasted Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo's video conference with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martinez's attendance at Lai’s inauguration on May 20. It said these actions harm bilateral trade, while Guatemalan suppliers accused China of political blackmail and called for a shift away from the Chinese market. 

An estimated 40 shipments of coffee beans were either awaiting export or were stuck overseas at the time of the ban’s announcement.