Japan, China Activate Beef Export Agreement

Japan and China have activated a key animal health and quarantine agreement, which went into effect on July 11, clearing a major hurdle for resuming Japanese beef exports to China after a 24-year ban tied to mad cow disease concerns. The agreement, originally ratified in 2019, had been delayed by COVID-19 and political issues. Recent talks in Osaka, involving Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama, and Foreign Ministers Takeshi Iwaya and Wang Yi, accelerated the process. Both governments are now working to finalize procedures and negotiations to restart beef shipments, though the timeline for actual exports remains uncertain. The move comes after China's partial lifting of its ban on Japanese seafood imports, signaling improved bilateral relations amid China-U.S. tensions. These steps are seen as diplomatic wins for Japan's ruling party ahead of elections and as part of broader efforts to strengthen Japan-China cooperation.