China tightening customs inspections from Japan: Firms

TOKYO (AFP) - China is ramping up customs inspections for Japanese products arriving at its ports, firms said on Friday, as a diplomatic row over disputed islands appeared to spill over into trade ties.

The move comes after Chinese state media threatened economic retribution over Tokyo's nationalisation of the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands, which Beijing calls Diaoyu.

"We've heard from our staff in China that some Japanese products arriving in Chinese ports are facing a tightening of customs procedures," Mr Tsutomu Suehara, spokesman for Japanese trading house Sojitz, said. However, he added "it's not to the extent that it affects our business".

Chinese customs took a similar measure in 2010 when ties soured over the arrest of a Chinese trawlerman who had rammed two Japanese coastguard vessels.