South Korean air purifiers have become the latest target in what appear to be retaliatory measures by Beijing against the deployment of a U.S. THAAD battery on the Korean Peninsula.
 
Industry sources said Friday that eight South Korean air purifier models failed to win import approval from the Chinese government in late December. China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine refused to approve the imports of the products, citing issues related to performance and safety.
 
Earlier in December, the Chinese agency did not approve the imports of 43 South Korean toilet bowls and bidet seats for substandard product markings and problems with electrical safety. On January third, 19 South Korean cosmetics products failed to obtain import approval from China.
 
The cases are fanning speculations that Beijing is making it more difficult for South Korean exporters to conduct business in China by raising nontariff barriers to punish Seoul for pushing ahead with the THAAD deployment.