China has decided to resume seafood imports from Japan. The ban was put in place in 2023 after Japan released treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean. The announcement came after talks between Chinese and Japanese officials in Beijing. Japanese Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi confirmed the news and said the imports would begin again once all paperwork is complete.
This marks a major step forward in improving ties between the two countries. Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya welcomed the development. He said it would help solve more issues between Tokyo and Beijing in the future. Although China has not officially signed a deal yet, it acknowledged that both sides made strong progress in the talks.
China stopped buying Japanese seafood in August 2023. The reason was Japan’s plan to release treated water from the damaged Fukushima plant into the Pacific Ocean. Chinese officials were worried the water might affect their fishing areas and harm the safety of seafood. Japan explained that the water had been filtered and diluted to safe levels. It also said the release was necessary to make space for ongoing work to shut down the plant. Officials warned that waiting too long might lead to dangerous leaks.
The Fukushima plant was damaged by a powerful earthquake and tsunami in 2011. This caused a meltdown in three nuclear reactors. Since then, water used to cool the reactors was stored in large tanks. As more water was used, space began to run out. In 2023, Japan started releasing the treated water into the sea. The goal was to prevent problems during the cleanup. Even though the government and experts said the water was safe, many people in Japan, China, and South Korea were not convinced. Protests followed in all three countries.
After the ban, Japan and China held three rounds of talks. These started in March 2024 and focused on technical details for seafood exports. Japan’s foreign ministry said an agreement was reached but did not give a date for when exports would begin again. Before the ban, China was the top buyer of Japanese seafood. Hong Kong was the second largest market. The ban hurt Japan’s fishing industry, but seafood is still a small part of the country’s total exports.
To help businesses, the Japanese government gave financial support to seafood exporters. It also encouraged them to find new markets in other countries. TEPCO, the company that runs the Fukushima plant, said it would pay for losses caused by the trade ban. This support helped many seafood businesses survive during the difficult period.
China still keeps some restrictions on products from ten Japanese prefectures. These include Fukushima and other areas near the damaged plant. Japan has promised to keep working with China to lift the remaining bans. It hopes this will lead to more trust and better trade relations.
The decision to restart imports is an important move. It could help reduce tension and build stronger ties between two of Asia’s largest economies. While some limits still remain, the progress shows both countries are willing to cooperate. This news is seen as a positive sign for regional stability and future trade.
