Latest news with #importrestrictions
Japan Times
19 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Koizumi presses Seoul to lift fishery curbs, meets S. Korea, China counterparts
Agriculture and fisheries minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Monday called on South Korea to remove restrictions it has placed on imports of fishery products from eight Japanese prefectures. South Korea has been suspending imports of fishery products from Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma and Chiba prefectures following the 2011 meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan. In his 30-minute meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in Seoul, Koizumi stressed the safety of Japanese fishery products and called for an early removal of the restrictions. "Many (South Korean) tourists visiting Japan are enjoying safe and delicious Japanese food. Confidence in Japanese food has recovered sufficiently," Koizumi told reporters. The meeting between Koizumi and Cho, the first between a Japanese agriculture minister and a South Korean foreign minister, came amid a recent improvement in relations between the two countries. Koizumi said that realizing the meeting "may be a sign of South Korea's intention to develop Japan-South Korea relations." He added, "If we proceed based on scientific grounds, we will gain understanding," expressing hope for an early removal of the South Korean restrictions on Japanese fishery products. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is expected to visit Japan late this month to meet with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Koizumi separately held a three-way meeting with his Chinese and South Korean counterparts, Han Jun and Song Mi-ryung, in Incheon near Seoul — the first such meeting in seven years. The three ministers agreed to strengthen collaboration for the sustainable and sound development of livestock production against the spread of transboundary animal diseases, according to their joint statement. They stressed the need to boost food self-sufficiency and strengthen reserve systems amid rising threats to food supplies, and agreed to consult as necessary in times of crisis.
NHK
a day ago
- Business
- NHK
Tokyo asks Seoul to scrap restrictions on imports of Japanese seafood
Japan's Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro has asked the South Korean Foreign Minister to scrap restrictions on imports of Japanese seafood. Koizumi held talks with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun at a rare meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul on Monday. Seoul suspended imports of marine products from eight Japanese prefectures following the 2011 nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Koizumi requested that Seoul lift the restrictions, arguing that Japanese foods are safe. After the talks, Koizumi told reporters that Japanese foods have regained public trust as can be seen by the many South Korean visitors to Japan who enjoy consuming them. He said he is confident that Japan can convince South Korea on this matter through discussions based on science. He said he will consider specific steps with Seoul so the South Korean government can repeal the measure.
Bloomberg
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Taiwan Mulls Curbing Chinese Cars Imported from Third Countries
Taiwan is evaluating measures to restrict the import of Chinese-branded vehicles from third countries, following local media reports that BYD Co. is planning to enter the Taiwanese market by shipping cars assembled in Thailand. 'Based on considerations of national security, vehicle safety, information security and industrial development, the government will strictly prevent Chinese-branded automobile from entering the Taiwanese market through various channels,' Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.
South China Morning Post
26-07-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
How China's ‘big winner' BYD conquered Sri Lanka's high-tariff car market
Aggressive pricing, shrewd tax engineering and a trusted local partner have propelled China's BYD to a commanding position in Sri Lanka 's electric vehicle and hybrid market, disrupting a sector long constrained by import restrictions and setting the stage for dramatic expansion. Sri Lanka's car market, starved of new imports for nearly five years under a sweeping ban imposed in the lead up to the economic crisis of 2022 to stabilise foreign reserves, reopened in February as the government lifted restrictions. But a new tariff regime – with excise duties reaching 300 per cent, 18 per cent value-added tax, and luxury taxes of up to 100 per cent – has sent car prices soaring. Crucially, import duties on EVs are calculated based on motor power and year of manufacture, with steep tax increases for vehicles exceeding the 100-kilowatt threshold. Industry analysts say BYD has configured models such as the Atto 3 just below that limit, qualifying for significantly lower duties. In most other markets, the same model features a 150kW motor, making the Sri Lankan variant better value for money. Visitors examine a BYD Atto 3 EV at an auto expo in Bangkok in 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE BYD's aggressive pricing strategy brought affordability back to the market and positioned the company as a disrupter, Sheran Fernando, former chairman of the Ceylon Motor Traders Association, told This Week in Asia.
The Guardian
26-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Are Australians about to see US beef on supermarket shelves? And why is Donald Trump celebrating?
Donald Trump has claimed victory over Australia's decision to lift restrictions on the import of US beef, but don't expect to see the product on supermarket shelves anytime soon, says industry. Much has been made of the timing of the decision, which followed a decade-long process by the agriculture department, and coincides with a push from the Trump administration to open up Australia's market to US exporters. The government has said there will be no weakening or compromise of Australia's biosecurity in opening the gates to more US beef, and most in the cattle and farming industry doubt we'll see much increase of US exports. Here's what you need to know about what impact it could have in Australia. Sign up: AU Breaking News email More than 99% of beef available in Australian pubs, supermarkets and restaurants is Australian beef, says Meat and Livestock Australia. The industry body, as well as Cattle Farmers Australia and the National Farmers' Federation, believe it's unlikely the restriction change will have any significant material impact. Dr Kate Sievert at Deakin University said US beef can't compete with the strong domestic cattle industry. She said it's unlikely Australians could see more US beef on the supermarket shelf, but it could be used more in fast-food or prepackaged meals. 'It's more likely to be used in specific segments of the food system, so areas like food service, particularly in fast-food service or ultra-processed products like ready meals,' Sievert said. 'The US relies a lot more on confined animal feeding operations where it's cheaper to produce.' That doesn't necessarily make it cheaper overall than Australian beef. The cattle industry has also pointed out that of the more niche or exclusive cuts of beef that the US produces, almost all are available already in Australia. Sievert said the rule change would put Australia more in line with countries such as Japan and South Korea that have been importing more beef from the US. But the US has also been facing a steady decline in its cattle herds, and production fell about 1% in 2024. 'Cattle herd sizes are the lowest they've been in decades,' Sievert said. Asked whether the decision on beef will change the dynamic with the US administration, the trade minister, Don Farrell, told the Lowy Institute thinktank on Friday: 'I'm not too sure. 'We haven't done this in order to entice the Americans into a trade agreement,' he said. 'President Trump thinks it's a good decision, [he's] taking credit for it. We have to pursue our national interest, and our national interest is the removal of all of those tariffs.' The government has been at pains to say the decision is not linked to the trade relationship, or the demands for open access from the US. Farrell said the government shouldn't 'give up' on the ambition to have the tariffs removed. He also said Australia's exports have been increasing to the US, ever since the tariffs were announced. 'We do $4bn worth of beef exports to the United States, and it's increasing by the way, we export huge amounts of beef to China, again, that's increasing.' On Thursday, Donald Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, 'The other Countries that refuse our magnificent Beef are ON NOTICE.' The Nationals said those comments from Trump sit at odds with the government's assertion that the decision was separate to the tariffs. The deputy leader of the Nationals, Kevin Hogan, said in a statement that Australia cannot use 'our science-based biosecurity standards as a bargaining chip'. 'We have the US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer directly connecting this decision to the US-Australia trade relationship, but the Albanese Government is saying the complete opposite,' he said. Australia introduced a ban on US beef imports in 2003, in response to an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease. Any country seeking market access to import fresh beef products must undergo a BSE risk assessment. In 2015, Australia granted the US a category 1 status, following a risk assessment, meaning the US had 'comprehensive and well-established controls' to prevent BSE outbreaks in cattle. Category 1 countries are able to import fresh and processed beef into Australia so long as they comply with other conditions. In 2017, Australia released the beef review, which assessed applications for market access from countries that had passed the BSE risk assessment, including the US. That review should have been the final step in allowing access to the Australian market – except it specified that the animal from which the beef was derived must have been 'continuously resident' in the approved country since birth. In 2019, the government began allowing beef imports from cattle traceably born and raised in the US. Imports were also subject to an ongoing biosecurity review that, in practice, has still meant no imports of fresh beef. The restriction changes now allow beef exports that are sourced from cattle born in Canada or Mexico, which the US has been importing to bolster its national herd. That cattle must be traceable, and legally imported and slaughtered in the US. The US imported an average of 700,000 cattle, buffalo or bison from Canada each year between 2019 and 2023 and 1.2 million per year from Mexico over the same period. However, live cattle imports from Mexico have been banned in the US since May, due to the spread of a flesh-eating pest.
