Japan has communicated to the World Trade Organization (WTO) that it finds China’s import ban on Japanese seafood, in response to the discharge of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, to be “totally unacceptable”. This stance was made clear following China’s notification to the WTO on August 31 about its decision to suspend the import of Japanese aquatic products.
The Japanese government intends to present its viewpoints in the relevant WTO committees, advocating for the immediate reversal of China’s ban. Japanese officials are considering the possibility of lodging a formal complaint with the WTO, a move that has garnered support from the US ambassador to Japan.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno emphasized plans to underscore the safety of the released water at various diplomatic forums, including the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Indonesia and the G20 Summit in India. However, the possibility of a bilateral meeting between Japan and China at these summits remains uncertain.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry has requested China to engage in discussions concerning the import ban under the provisions of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement.
While marine products constitute a small fraction (less than 1 percent) of Japan’s overall global trade, the country exported aquatic goods worth approximately $600 million to mainland China in 2022. This makes China the largest market for Japanese seafood exports, followed by Hong Kong. In response to the potential loss of this significant seafood market, the Japanese government has announced plans to allocate over 100 billion yen (around $682 million) to support its domestic fisheries industry.
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