China Resumes Japanese Seafood Imports Excluding Fukushima, Other Prefectures

Japan and China have agreed on procedures to resume imports of Japanese seafood products after a nearly two-year ban imposed following Japan's release of treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2023. The agreement, reached during talks between Japan's Ministry of Agriculture and China's Customs, covers seafood exports from 37 Japanese prefectures, excluding Fukushima, Tokyo, and eight other prefectures that remain under import restrictions. Under the terms, Japan will register fishery processing facilities with Chinese authorities and provide inspection certificates confirming the absence of radioactive substances. The resumption of exports is expected once China completes necessary procedural steps, marking a significant milestone in easing bilateral tensions. Despite this progress, China's ban on Japanese beef and agricultural products from the 10 restricted prefectures remains in effect, with Japanese officials urging continued efforts for their removal. The treated Fukushima wastewater, containing diluted tritium levels below international safety guidelines, had prompted the initial trade restrictions and diplomatic backlash.