China and Japan nearing agreement to lift 2023 ban on Japanese seafood exports.
Following a nearly two-year trade ban, China and Japan are poised to reach an agreement that will enable the reintroduction of Japanese seafood into the Chinese market.
On Friday, Tokyo announced that the final details are being worked out after a fruitful meeting in Beijing earlier in the week.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi conveyed to the press that officials have “come to terms on the technical prerequisites for resuming fishery product exports to China.”
“Once the re-registration process for export-related facilities is finalized, exports to China will resume,” said Hayashi, labeling the impending agreement as a “significant milestone.”
In August 2023, China halted Japanese seafood imports in response to Japan’s decision to discharge over 1 million metric tons of treated radioactive wastewater from the defunct Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The plant suffered a catastrophic failure during Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami event, resulting in the collapse of three of its six nuclear reactors.
Although the wastewater release was deemed safe by the International Atomic Energy Agency, China and other neighboring countries expressed concerns over the decision.
China’s General Administration of Customs stated on Friday that exports will resume after the “necessary procedures” are fulfilled, following “significant progress” made in negotiations.
The agreement establishes new protocols for Japan, which will require its fish processing facilities to undergo registration with China.
Exporters will also be mandated to provide inspection certificates ensuring that seafood products have been screened for radioactive material, as per Japanese officials.
Restrictions will persist on agricultural and marine exports from 10 Japanese prefectures due to lingering concerns linked to the 2011 disaster.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa has stated that Tokyo will continue to urge China to remove any outstanding restrictions.
On Friday, Tokyo announced that the final details are being worked out after a fruitful meeting in Beijing earlier in the week.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi conveyed to the press that officials have “come to terms on the technical prerequisites for resuming fishery product exports to China.”
“Once the re-registration process for export-related facilities is finalized, exports to China will resume,” said Hayashi, labeling the impending agreement as a “significant milestone.”
In August 2023, China halted Japanese seafood imports in response to Japan’s decision to discharge over 1 million metric tons of treated radioactive wastewater from the defunct Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The plant suffered a catastrophic failure during Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami event, resulting in the collapse of three of its six nuclear reactors.
Although the wastewater release was deemed safe by the International Atomic Energy Agency, China and other neighboring countries expressed concerns over the decision.
China’s General Administration of Customs stated on Friday that exports will resume after the “necessary procedures” are fulfilled, following “significant progress” made in negotiations.
The agreement establishes new protocols for Japan, which will require its fish processing facilities to undergo registration with China.
Exporters will also be mandated to provide inspection certificates ensuring that seafood products have been screened for radioactive material, as per Japanese officials.
Restrictions will persist on agricultural and marine exports from 10 Japanese prefectures due to lingering concerns linked to the 2011 disaster.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa has stated that Tokyo will continue to urge China to remove any outstanding restrictions.
