Latest news with #YoshimasaHayashi
Epoch Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Epoch Times
Japan Says China Agrees to Terms for Seafood Import Resumption After Fukushima Wastewater Row
Japan said on Friday that China has agreed to procedures for allowing Japanese seafood imports, which Beijing had banned since August 2023 due to the release of treated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea. The two nations have reached an agreement on the technical terms for resuming Japanese seafood imports into China, chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told cabinet members, local media
HKFP
8 hours ago
- Business
- HKFP
China, Japan close to resuming seafood imports following Fukushima ban
China and Japan said Friday they were moving closer to ending a years-long dispute over Tokyo's handling of nuclear wastewater that prompted Beijing to ban imports of Japanese seafood. In 2023, Japan began gradually releasing treated wastewater from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. The move was backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, but drew sharp criticism from Beijing, which banned Japanese seafood imports as a result. China indicated on Friday that it was edging closer to lifting the ban, saying talks with Japanese officials in Beijing this week had 'achieved substantial progress'. 'So far this year, the two sides have carried out several rounds of technical exchanges,' Beijing's customs administration said in a statement, without giving further details. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Beijing and Tokyo had 'reached an agreement on the technical requirements necessary to resume exports of fishery products to China'. 'Exports to China will resume as soon as the re-registration process for export-related facilities is completed,' Hayashi said on Friday. 'We regard this as a major milestone,' he told a press conference. China previously said it had found no abnormalities in seawater and marine life samples it independently collected near the Fukushima plant in February, but indicated more tests were needed before revoking the ban. 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, whose ties with Japan have long been strained by Tokyo's imperial legacy, vociferously opposed the release of the treated wastewater, casting it as environmentally irresponsible.
Business Recorder
8 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
China, Japan close to resuming seafood imports after Fukushima ban
BEIJING: China and Japan said Friday they were moving closer to ending a years-long dispute over Tokyo's handling of nuclear wastewater that prompted Beijing to ban imports of Japanese seafood. In 2023, Japan began gradually releasing treated wastewater from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. The move was backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, but drew sharp criticism from Beijing, which banned Japanese seafood imports as a result. China indicated on Friday that it was edging closer to lifting the ban, saying talks with Japanese officials in Beijing this week had 'achieved substantial progress'. 'So far this year, the two sides have carried out several rounds of technical exchanges,' Beijing's customs administration said in a statement, without giving further details. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Beijing and Tokyo had 'reached an agreement on the technical requirements necessary to resume exports of fishery products to China'. 'Exports to China will resume as soon as the re-registration process for export-related facilities is completed,' Hayashi said on Friday. China, Japan foreign ministers meet in Beijing, seafood trade on agenda 'We regard this as a major milestone,' he told a press conference. China previously said it had found no abnormalities in seawater and marine life samples it independently collected near the Fukushima plant in February, but indicated more tests were needed before revoking the ban. 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, whose ties with Japan have long been strained by Tokyo's imperial legacy, vociferously opposed the release of the treated wastewater, casting it as environmentally irresponsible.
Al Jazeera
9 hours ago
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Japanese seafood set to return to China after Fukushima wastewater row
China and Japan are closing in on a deal that would see the return of Japanese seafood imports to the Chinese market following a nearly two-year trade ban. Tokyo said on Friday that the two sides are finalising details following a successful meeting in Beijing this week. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that officials had 'reached an agreement on the technical requirements necessary to resume exports of fishery products to China'. 'Exports to China will resume as soon as the re-registration process for export-related facilities is completed,' Hayashi said, hailing the pending deal as a 'milestone.' China banned Japanese seafood imports in August 2023 after Japan released more than 1 million metric tonnes of treated radioactive wastewater from the former Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The power plant was destroyed during Japan's infamous 2011 earthquake and tsunami, when three of its six nuclear reactors collapsed. While the safety of the wastewater release was backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the move was controversial with neighbours like China. China's General Administration of Customs said on Friday that exports will resume once the 'necessary procedures' are completed after 'substantial progress' was made during negotiations. The deal lays out several new procedures for Japan, whose fish processing facilities will be required to register with China. Exporters will also need to include certificates of inspection guaranteeing that seafood has been checked for radioactive material, according to Japanese officials. Chinese restrictions will remain on agricultural and marine exports from 10 Japanese prefectures due to concerns dating back to the 2011 accident. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa said Tokyo would continue to push China to lift any remaining restrictions.
Business Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Business Times
China, Japan close to resuming seafood imports after Fukushima ban
[BEIJING] China and Japan said on Friday they were moving closer to ending a years-long dispute over Tokyo's handling of nuclear wastewater that prompted Beijing to ban imports of Japanese seafood. In 2023, Japan began gradually releasing treated wastewater from the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. The move was backed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, but drew sharp criticism from Beijing, which banned Japanese seafood imports as a result. China indicated on Friday that it was edging closer to lifting the ban, saying talks with Japanese officials in Beijing this week had 'achieved substantial progress'. 'So far this year, the two sides have carried out several rounds of technical exchanges,' Beijing's customs administration said in a statement, without giving further details. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Beijing and Tokyo had 'reached an agreement on the technical requirements necessary to resume exports of fishery products to China'. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'Exports to China will resume as soon as the re-registration process for export-related facilities is completed,' Hayashi said on Friday. 'We regard this as a major milestone,' he told a press conference. China previously said it had found no abnormalities in seawater and marine life samples it independently collected near the Fukushima plant in February, but indicated more tests were needed before revoking the ban. 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, whose ties with Japan have long been strained by Tokyo's imperial legacy, vociferously opposed the release of the treated wastewater, casting it as environmentally irresponsible. AFP
