Japan's Fukushima Food Imports Allowed for Taiwan's CPTPP Accession

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The Taiwanese government has approved the import of food products from the Fukushima area in Japan. Taiwan is pursuing membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to reduce its economic dependence on China, and this decision reflects Taiwan's acceptance of Japan's demands for CPTPP accession.

On the morning of the 8th, the Taiwanese government held a press conference attended by five minister-level officials, including Deng Zhenzhong, representative of the Trade Negotiation Office, announcing the approval of food imports from five prefectures including Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, and Chiba. Taiwan lifted the import ban after 10 years. Like many other regions worldwide, Taiwan had banned the import of agricultural and marine products from the Fukushima area following the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011.

The Taiwanese government explained that as the global trend is gradually allowing imports of Fukushima food products, it judged that it is time to permit imports under strict inspection to advance Taiwan's participation in the global trade arena.

At the press conference, Luo Bingcheng, spokesperson for the Taiwanese government, said, "It has been 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, and countries around the world have gradually lifted restrictions related to food products from the Fukushima area. Currently, only Taiwan and China maintain a complete import ban on food products from this area." Luo added, "Even after changing the restrictions on Fukushima food imports, the government will continue to protect the food safety of its citizens through scientific inspections that are stricter than international standards."

The Taiwanese government plans to lift the import ban on food products from the Fukushima area but will conduct customs inspections on all food products imported from the five prefectures including Fukushima. Additionally, for products deemed risky by the government, radiation test results and certificates of origin will be required.

The reason the Taiwanese government, led by President Tsai Ing-wen, made the 'decision' to import food products from Fukushima despite strong internal opposition from the main opposition party, the Kuomintang, is to join the CPTPP, in which Japan is a key member.

President Tsai, who advocates for independence, is strongly promoting a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States and CPTPP membership to reduce Taiwan's economic dependence on China in the long term.

Since applying for CPTPP membership in September last year, Taiwan has been negotiating to gain Japan's support, and Japan has strongly requested Taiwan to allow imports of Fukushima food products.

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