"China Notifies WTO of Ban on Japanese Seafood Imports... Japan Provides Emergency Support to Domestic Fisheries"

Amid China's announcement to continue its full ban on imports of Japanese seafood, Japan has begun preparing support measures for its domestic fisheries industry.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, where the discharge of contaminated water into the ocean began around 1:30 PM on the 24th of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun on the 2nd, the Chinese government reportedly notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the 31st of last month about its full ban on imports of Japanese seafood in response to the Japanese government's discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean. In the WTO notification, China described the import suspension as an "emergency measure to effectively protect public life and health and to completely suppress risks," claiming that "(the discharge of contaminated water) poses uncontrollable risks to public health and food safety."

China's WTO notification is interpreted as indicating that it has no intention of immediately lifting the import ban demanded by the Japanese government. Under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), member countries are obligated to notify others when taking measures that significantly affect trade. The Yomiuri reported that Japan plans to counter these claims at future SPS Committee meetings and other forums.

In response, the Japanese government is reportedly coordinating to secure 20 billion yen (approximately 18 billion KRW) to provide emergency support to domestic fisheries operators affected by China's measures, according to Kyodo News and others. Separately, the Japanese government has already set aside 80 billion yen (approximately 72.3 billion KRW) as a protective fund for fisheries operators impacted by the contaminated water discharge.

The Japanese government continues to criticize China's claims that the contaminated water discharge adversely affects humans and the marine environment. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan rebutted the statement posted on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Japan by Wu Jianghao, the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, who claimed that other countries do not participate in the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) monitoring of the contaminated water. The ministry stated, "Analytical institutions from the United States, France, Switzerland, and South Korea are participating, making it international and objective."

Regarding Ambassador Wu's questioning of the data published by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the ministry emphasized, "The reliability of the data is reviewed by the IAEA, and Chinese experts also participate in the review, providing a basis for China's professional insight." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that concerning the impact of the contaminated water discharge, "After careful evaluation considering marine dispersion, biological concentration, and long-term accumulation according to international standards, the impact is negligible," and that this is clearly stated in the IAEA's report.

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