Taiwan Likely to Allow Fukushima Food Products from Japan to Join CPTPP

(Photo by Xinhua News Agency)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has indicated plans to allow the import of food products from Fukushima, Japan. This appears to be a strategic move toward joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), led by Japan in opposition to China.

According to Taiwanese media such as Liberty Times on the 13th, President Tsai stated at the ruling Democratic Progressive Party Central Executive Committee meeting the previous day that the issue of importing Japanese food should be handled based on principles of public health and safety, scientific evidence, and international standards.

President Tsai noted that food safety has long been an important agenda in promoting economic and trade exchanges between Japan and Taiwan, and that Taiwan will proceed with importing Japanese food and subsequent bilateral negotiations based on scientific evidence and other criteria.

She added that there will be communication and rational discussions across various sectors of Taiwanese society to this end.

This statement from President Tsai follows Japanese media reports that the Taiwanese government may allow imports of food products from five prefectures including Fukushima as early as January to March.

Like many countries worldwide, Taiwan has not imported agricultural and marine products produced in the area since the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011.

President Tsai emphasized that the recent referendum confirmed voters’ desire to expand Taiwan’s presence on the international stage, and that Taiwan is confident in embracing a free and open international economic and trade system.

She further stated that through participation in high-standard international economic and trade systems such as the CPTPP, Taiwan should identify key points in restructuring international supply chains and advance globally.

The CPTPP is an economic cooperation body launched by Japan and 11 other countries after the United States withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). As of 2019, its trade volume accounted for about 15% (5.7 trillion dollars) of global trade.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.