China and Japan are finalizing an agreement that will pave the way for the resumption of Japanese seafood exports to the Chinese market, ending a nearly two-year trade suspension triggered by the Fukushima wastewater release, as per Al Jazeera.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed on Friday that both countries had agreed on the technical framework needed to restart seafood exports, following productive bilateral talks held in Beijing this week.
“Exports to China will resume as soon as the re-registration process for export-related facilities is completed,” Hayashi said, calling the agreement a “milestone” in restoring trade ties.
The seafood ban was imposed by Beijing in August 2023, after Japan began releasing more than 1 million metric tonnes of treated radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The plant was severely damaged in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster that led to the collapse of three of its six nuclear reactors.
While the International Atomic Energy Agency backed Japan’s wastewater release plan as safe, the move sparked regional backlash — with China being the most vocal opponent, citing public health and environmental concerns.
China’s General Administration of Customs said Friday that “substantial progress” had been made in the negotiations and that seafood imports from Japan would resume once all “necessary procedures” were completed.
As part of the agreement, Japan will implement new inspection and certification measures. Japanese fish processing facilities must now register with Chinese authorities, and each seafood shipment will be required to carry certification confirming it has passed radiation safety checks.
Despite the breakthrough, China will maintain restrictions on agricultural and marine products from 10 Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima, due to lingering safety concerns dating back to the 2011 nuclear disaster.
Hayashi noted that Tokyo would continue to advocate for the complete removal of remaining restrictions.
