Japan to WTO: China’s Fukushima-related seafood ban ‘totally unacceptable’
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Locally caught seafood at the Hamanoeki Fish Market and Food Court in Soma, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, on Aug 31.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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TOKYO - Japan has told the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that China’s ban on Japanese seafood release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant
In a counter-argument to China’s Aug 31 notification to WTO on its measures to suspend Japanese aquatic imports that started in August, Japan said it would explain its positions in relevant WTO committees and urged China to immediately repeal the action.
Some Japanese officials have signalled the possibility of filing a WTO complaint
Japan will explain about the safety of the released water at diplomatic forums, including the Asean Summit in Indonesia and Group of 20 Summit in India in September, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters on Tuesday.
“Nothing is decided about a Japan-China leaders’ meeting,” added Mr Matsuno, who is Tokyo’s top government spokesman.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the Asean and G-20 summits, while Chinese President Xi Jinping is skipping both conferences
In a separate statement on Monday, Tokyo’s Foreign Ministry said Japan has also requested China to hold discussions over the Fukushima-related import ban based on the provisions of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade pact.
Although marine products make up less than 1 per cent of Japan’s global trade, which is dominated by cars, Japan exported about US$600 million (S$814 million) worth of aquatic products to China in 2022, making it the biggest market for Japanese exports, followed by Hong Kong.
To ease the pain of losing that seafood demand, Japan will spend more than 100 billion yen (S$925 million) to support the domestic fisheries industry
