Japan demands lifting the complete ban on imports of Japanese seafood from China... Considering support for domestic fisheries industry

Sales of 727 Japanese Food Companies, Average 55.9% Exported to China

Japan has demanded the Chinese government lift its decision to impose a complete ban on imports of Japanese seafood. Additionally, Japan is considering support measures for its domestic seafood industry, which is expected to suffer damage due to the import ban.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is answering questions from the press regarding the discharge of contaminated water into the ocean at the Prime Minister's Official Residence on the afternoon of the 24th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to Kyodo News and local broadcaster NHK, Yastoshi Nishimura, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in charge of nuclear power, said at a press conference following a cabinet meeting on the 25th, "The decision by the Chinese government is something our country (Japan) can never accept." He added, "From this evening, water quality data collected yesterday will also be released daily. Since we are acting based on scientific evidence, the government will unite and strongly demand the immediate lifting of baseless regulations from China."

Hirokazu Matsuno, Chief Cabinet Secretary and spokesperson for the Japanese government, also stated, "Our country has politely explained Japan’s position to the international community, including China, with high transparency based on scientific evidence, and has worked to deepen understanding." He added, "We will strongly demand a response based on scientific evidence from China." Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki emphasized that China and Hong Kong combined import 150 billion yen (approximately 1.36 trillion KRW) worth of Japanese seafood, which significantly affects Japanese stakeholders, and that serious consideration is needed regarding relief measures. He said, "There are cases where fish exported from Japan is processed in China and then exported to the European Union (EU) and others. Going forward, it is possible to consider processing domestically in Japan and exporting directly to markets such as the EU."

The Japanese government has begun preparing countermeasures, concerned that seafood producers will be severely impacted by China’s complete import ban. Specific support plans are expected to be prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. China and Hong Kong are the first and second largest export markets for Japanese seafood. According to the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, last year’s export value to China and Hong Kong reached 87.1 billion yen (approximately 79 billion KRW) and 75.5 billion yen (approximately 69 billion KRW), respectively.

Credit information company Teikoku Databank also released a survey result indicating that 727 Japanese food-related companies that export directly or indirectly to China could be affected by China’s recent measures. The average proportion of exports to China in the sales of these 727 companies was 55.9%, showing a high dependence on China. Tetsuro Nomura, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said, "We will closely monitor the impact of the (Chinese) regulations and, depending on the situation, will make every effort to expand domestic consumption, maintain domestic production, and develop new export destinations."

China had immediately played the card of a complete import ban the day before, as Japan began discharging contaminated water.

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