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China is retaliating for a Korean freeze of some kimchi imports from the country over a parasite scare, avenging its tainted honor by a blanket ban on products it does not even import, local manufacturers and authorities say.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said China's General Administration of Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) banned 10 Korean products -- seven Kimchi products, a hot pepper paste and a broiled beef spice mixture -- saying it also found parasite eggs in the products. China regularly checks imports from Korea, but it is rare for the country to announce its findings.
But the five kimchi makers whose products were banned say they never exported kimchi to China and accuse Beijing of indiscriminate retaliation. The Korea Food and Drug Administration confirmed that the brands are not officially exported to China.
AQSIQ earlier asked Korea to hold off announcing its parasite find until it conducted its own inquiry, but Korea demurred.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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