Latest news with #KazuhikoAoki
The Star
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
China to resume some Japanese seafood imports after ban
The government has lifted a ban on seafood imports from most regions of Japan, partially mending a years-long dispute over Tokyo's handling of nuclear wastewater. China and Japan are key trading partners, but increased friction over territorial rivalries and military spending has frayed ties in recent years. Japan began gradually releasing treated wastewater from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean in 2023. The move was backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the plant operator Tepco says all radioactive elements have been filtered out except for tritium, levels of which are within safe limits. But it drew sharp criticism from Beijing, which banned imports of Japanese seafood as a result. Russia later followed suit. Samples from long-term monitoring of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima had 'not shown abnormalities', China's General Administration of Customs said in a statement on Sunday. As a result, China 'decided to conditionally resume' seafood imports from Japan, with the exception of imports from 10 of the country's 47 prefectures, including Fukushima and Tokyo, which remain banned. The Japanese government received the decision 'positively', Kazuhiko Aoki, deputy chief Cabinet secretary, told reporters in Tokyo. But Japan 'will strongly demand the Chinese side lift remaining import regulations on seafood from 10 prefectures', he added. Japanese Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi also called China's move 'a major milestone'. Production companies that had suspended trade must reapply for registration in China and would be 'strictly' supervised, Beijing's customs administration said on Sunday. In 2011, a huge earthquake triggered a deadly tsunami that swamped the Fukushima nuclear facility and pushed three of its six reactors into meltdown. — AFP
The Independent
15 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
China partially lifts ban on Japanese seafood after Fukushima wastewater row
China partially lifted a ban on seafood imports from Japan after nearly two years over Tokyo 's release of treated radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The move eases tensions between the two countries, though seafood from 10 Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima and Tokyo, remains barred. China's General Administration of Customs said in a statement that long-term international and Chinese monitoring of discharged wastewater had 'not shown abnormalities', prompting the decision to resume imports from most Japanese regions. Exporters will now require certificates from the Japanese government confirming inspections for radioactive materials. The ban was first imposed in August 2023 after Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) began releasing treated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. The discharge was backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which said radioactive elements had been filtered out except tritium, a substance that remains within internationally accepted safety levels. Japan welcomed the partial reopening of the seafood trade, with agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi calling it 'a major milestone'. Deputy chief cabinet secretary, Kazuhiko Aoki, told reporters Tokyo would 'strongly demand the Chinese side lift remaining import regulations on seafood from 10 prefectures', according to AFP news agency. China's seafood ban had become a symbol of frayed relations, exacerbated by historical grievances and rising regional tensions. Beijing has long criticised Japan's wartime record and accused Tokyo of failing to sufficiently address its past. The two countries remain key trading partners despite disputes over maritime territory and military spending. Beijing's customs authority said production companies must now reapply for registration in China and would be strictly supervised to ensure compliance with safety standards. The partial lifting of the ban follows China's statement last year that it would 'gradually resume' imports once monitoring confirmed no safety risks. The development could help stabilise seafood markets, which were disrupted after China and later Russia suspended imports of Japanese marine products in response to the Fukushima wastewater release.
Kyodo News
a day ago
- Business
- Kyodo News
Kyodo News Digest: June 30, 2025
KYODO NEWS - 6 hours ago - 15:00 | All, Japan, World The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Japan gov't says China's lifting of import ban on seafood "positive" TOKYO - China's removal of its blanket import ban on Japanese seafood implemented in August 2023 is a "positive" move, a government spokesman said Monday. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiko Aoki said the government will continue to urge China to remove the remaining ban on fisheries produce from 10 prefectures including Fukushima imposed since the March 2011 nuclear disaster. ---------- Trump shows no willingness to compromise on Japan auto tariffs WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump made clear in an interview broadcast Sunday that he has no plans to roll back hefty auto tariffs imposed on Japan, despite its strong opposition expressed in now-stalled negotiations. Trump said his administration is ready to unilaterally send letters "starting pretty soon" to Japan and many other trading partners informing them of tariff rates for their exports to the United States. ---------- Japan PM to consider best governing framework after July poll TOKYO - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Sunday he will consider what will be "the most appropriate" framework for his coalition government after a crucial election next month for the House of Councillors where his ruling coalition is seeking to retain its majority. In an interview with Kyodo News, Ishiba called securing a majority of the 248-member upper chamber a "must-attain" goal but said it is not an easy task, at a time when conservative supporters are increasingly looking to alternatives to his Liberal Democratic Party. ---------- Japan's May industrial output up 0.5% on strong production machinery TOKYO - Japan's industrial output in May rose 0.5 percent from the previous month, marking the first increase in two months, lifted in part by metal molds used in vehicle manufacturing and other production machinery, government data showed Monday. The seasonally adjusted index of production at factories and mines stood at 101.8 against the 2020 base of 100, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a preliminary report. It followed a revised 1.1 percent decrease in April. ---------- Dozens sent to hospital near Tokyo after student sprays "insecticide" YOKOHAMA - Dozens of people were taken to a hospital from a high school near Tokyo on Monday after a student exposed them to what he claimed was an "insecticide" spray, police said. None of those affected are thought to be seriously injured, local police in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, said. The student at Sagami-Koyokan Senior High School told the police he "jokingly sprayed" the substance, they added. ---------- Harley-Davidson Japan faces fine over excessive sales quotas TOKYO - Japan's antitrust watchdog is set to fine the domestic unit of motorcycle company Harley-Davidson Inc. around 200 million yen ($1.4 million) for imposing excessive sales quotas on dealers in violation of the antimonopoly law, sources close to the matter have said. The Japan Fair Trade Commission will also issue a cease and desist order to Harley-Davidson Japan K.K., based in Tokyo, over pressuring dealers by implying their exclusive sales contracts might not be renewed if they failed to meet the quotas, leading some to buy unsold motorcycles themselves. ---------- China to invite Trump to Sept. military parade marking WWII victory BEIJING - China is planning to invite U.S. President Donald Trump to a military parade scheduled for Sept. 3 in Beijing's Tiananmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, sources familiar with the matter said Sunday. The United States, meanwhile, has proposed that Chinese President Xi Jinping visit the country during the same month, coinciding with a U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York, the sources said. ---------- Sumo: Onosato aims to buck trend, win Nagoya meet in yokozuna debut ANJO, Japan - Newly promoted Onosato said Monday he aims to win the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament as a yokozuna debutant and add his name to the small group of wrestlers to achieve the feat. The 25-year-old star will compete for the first time as a grand champion at the 15-day tournament opening July 13 at the new IG Arena. Video: Mt. Shinmoe eruption in southwestern Japan
NDTV
a day ago
- Business
- NDTV
China Lifts 2-Year Ban On Japanese Seafood Imports
Beijing: China has lifted a ban on seafood imports from most regions of Japan, partially mending a years-long dispute over Tokyo's handling of nuclear wastewater. China and Japan are key trading partners, but increased friction over territorial rivalries and military spending has frayed ties in recent years. Japan's brutal occupation of parts of China before and during World War II remains a sore point, with Beijing accusing Tokyo of failing to atone for its past. Japan began gradually releasing treated wastewater from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean in 2023. The move was backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the plant operator TEPCO says all radioactive elements have been filtered out except for tritium, levels of which are within safe limits. But it drew sharp criticism from Beijing, which banned imports of Japanese seafood as a result. Russia later followed suit. Samples from long-term monitoring of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima had "not shown abnormalities", China's General Administration of Customs said in a statement Sunday. As a result, China "decided to conditionally resume" seafood imports from Japan, with the exception of imports from 10 of the country's 47 prefectures, including Fukushima and Tokyo, which remain banned. The Japanese government received the decision "positively", Kazuhiko Aoki, deputy chief cabinet secretary, told reporters in Tokyo. But Japan "will strongly demand the Chinese side lift remaining import regulations on seafood from 10 prefectures", he added. Japanese Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi also called China's move "a major milestone". In 2011, a huge earthquake triggered a deadly tsunami that swamped the Fukushima nuclear facility and pushed three of its six reactors into meltdown. China vociferously opposed the release of the treated wastewater, casting it as environmentally irresponsible. But in September last year it said it would "gradually resume" importing the seafood. Production companies that had suspended trade must reapply for registration in China and would be "strictly" supervised, Beijing's customs administration said Sunday.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
China eases Japanese seafood ban, maintains curbs on Fukushima
BEIJING: China has lifted a ban on seafood imports from most regions of Japan, partially mending a years-long dispute over Tokyo's handling of nuclear wastewater. China and Japan are key trading partners, but increased friction over territorial rivalries and military spending has frayed ties in recent years. Japan's brutal occupation of parts of China before and during World War II remains a sore point, with Beijing accusing Tokyo of failing to atone for its past. Japan began gradually releasing treated wastewater from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean in 2023. The move was backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the plant operator TEPCO says all radioactive elements have been filtered out except for tritium, levels of which are within safe limits. But it drew sharp criticism from Beijing, which banned imports of Japanese seafood as a result. Russia later followed suit. Samples from long-term monitoring of nuclear-contaminated water from Fukushima had "not shown abnormalities", China's General Administration of Customs said in a statement Sunday. As a result, China "decided to conditionally resume" seafood imports from Japan, except imports from 10 of the country's 47 prefectures, including Fukushima and Tokyo, which remain banned. The Japanese government received the decision "positively", Kazuhiko Aoki, deputy chief cabinet secretary, told reporters in Tokyo. But Japan "will strongly demand the Chinese side lift remaining import regulations on seafood from 10 prefectures", he added. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning confirmed Monday that Beijing was resuming seafood imports from regions "that meet China's standards." But she warned that China would take measures to restrict imports "should any risks be identified." In 2011, a huge earthquake triggered a deadly tsunami that swamped the Fukushima nuclear facility and pushed three of its six reactors into meltdown. China vociferously opposed the release of the treated wastewater, casting it as environmentally irresponsible. But in September last year, it said it would "gradually resume" importing the seafood. Production companies that had suspended trade must reapply for registration in China and would be "strictly" supervised, Beijing's customs administration said Sunday.--AFP
