Japan has strongly criticized China's ban on Japanese seafood following the release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant, branding the measure "totally unacceptable." The Japanese government conveyed its concerns to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on September 4, intensifying a trade dispute that has been escalating since China's suspension of Japanese aquatic imports last month.
In a formal response to China's notification to the WTO on August 31 outlining its measures, Japan pledged to elucidate its positions in relevant WTO committees and called for an immediate repeal of China's action. There have been hints from Japanese officials that the country might escalate the matter by filing a formal WTO complaint, a move the United States has indicated it would support.
Japan intends to explain the safety of the treated water released from the Fukushima plant at diplomatic forums, including the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Indonesia and the G20 Summit in India later this month. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno conveyed to reporters on September 5;
"Nothing is decided about a Japan-China leaders' meeting."
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and China's Premier Li Qiang will both attend the ASEAN and G20 summits, while Chinese President Xi Jinping has opted not to participate in either conference.
In a separate statement issued on September 4, Japan's foreign ministry revealed that it has requested China engage in discussions regarding the import ban, based on the provisions of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade pact.
While marine products account for less than 1% of Japan's global trade, with the automotive industry dominating its exports, Japan exported approximately $600 mn worth of aquatic products to China in 2022, making China its most substantial market for seafood exports, followed by Hong Kong.
Recent data published on September 5 indicates that exports of aquatic products to China experienced their first decline in two and a half years in July, plummeting by 23% year-on-year to 7.7 bn yen ($52.44 mn). The stricter inspections imposed on goods destined for China since Japan announced its plan to release the treated Fukushima water have significantly slowed down shipments.
To mitigate the economic impact of the declining seafood demand from China, Japan has announced plans to allocate over 100 bn yen ($682 mn) to support its domestic fisheries industry. This financial boost aims to aid Japanese fishermen and related industries grappling with the fallout from the seafood ban imposed by China.
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