According to Japan's Asahi Shimbun, China's imports of Japanese aquatic products in August fell by 67.6% year-on-year. The figure has raised global concerns, particularly on Japan's fishing industry and economy.
So, what exactly does this change mean?
China has banned imports of Japanese seafood products
After Japan announced that it would discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear accident into the ocean, the mainland reacted quickly by deciding to completely suspend imports of Japanese aquatic products.
This decision was not rushed, but based on deep concerns about food safety and public health. Fukushima's nuclear-contaminated water can contain radioactive material, and once it enters the food chain, its potential health risks cannot be ignored.
China's action aims to ensure the safety of its people's food and avoid health problems caused by ingesting seafood that may be contaminated.
Moreover, it is also a response to Japan's decision-making, indicating that China has a firm position on such major environmental and health issues.
This move is not only based on food safety considerations, but also attaches great importance to public health.
In this way, the Chinese government hopes to ensure that every citizen can enjoy safe and healthy food without worrying about health risks caused by external factors.
China's imports of Japanese seafood plummeted
According to data released by the General Administration of Customs of China, China's imports of aquatic products from Japan amounted to 149.02 million yuan in August, a sharp decline of 67.6% year-on-year.
It is worth noting that this downward trend did not appear suddenly, as early as July, imports fell by 28.5% year-on-year.
This sharp decline is directly related to Japan's decision to discharge Fukushima's contaminated water into the ocean.
In order to ensure the food safety and health of its citizens, China responded quickly by deciding to suspend the import of Japanese seafood products. This policy decision clearly has a clear impact on the trade volume of both sides.
Judging from the current trend, it is expected that Japan's seafood exports to China will further decrease in September and beyond, and may even approach zero.
This not only reflects China's strict attitude towards food safety, but also shows that the Chinese government will take decisive measures to protect the interests of its citizens in the face of major public health issues.
Japan's seafood industry and economy have been hit
According to statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, China has become the largest market for Japanese fishery exports, accounting for nearly a quarter of Japan's total seafood exports last year, specifically 21%.
This figure fully demonstrates the great importance of the Chinese market to the Japanese seafood industry.
However, due to the decision to discharge the contaminated water from Fukushima, China decided to suspend the import of Japanese seafood products, which undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese seafood industry.
Given the large share of the Chinese market, the impact of this import disruption on the entire industry is profound.
Yamato General Research Institute, a well-known Japanese think tank, conducted an in-depth analysis of this and gave some worrying predictions.
They estimate that if China's imports of Japanese seafood continue to stagnate, Japan's real GDP could be significantly affected, and it is expected to lose about 1.2 trillion yen, which means that 0.2% of Japan's GDP will be affected.
This is not just a trade issue, but an economic one. The Japanese government and related industries need to take this issue seriously and find solutions to mitigate the potential impact on the national economy.
epilogue
China's import restrictions have not only affected Japan's fishing industry, but also sparked tensions in Sino-Japanese relations. Japan's Foreign Ministry, which has submitted written documents to the World Trade Organization (WTO), called China's import controls "totally unacceptable."
However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning made clear that China's measures were "completely justified, reasonable and necessary."
The event once again highlighted the importance of environmental issues and food safety in global trade. Japan needs to seriously rethink its decisions, while China has the right to protect the food safety and health of its citizens.
The incident also serves as a warning to other countries that environmental protection and public health are foundations that cannot be ignored in any economic activity.