Overview

• China agreed on Friday to lift its two-year ban on Japanese seafood imports that was imposed in 2023 over Fukushima wastewater discharges.
• The framework was approved during Wednesday’s talks in Beijing between Japanese Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Chinese officials.
• China must carry out unspecified “necessary procedures,” notably joining IAEA-led water sampling missions to monitor radioactive levels.
• The pact requires Japan to register its fishery processing facilities with Chinese authorities for inspection and certification of seafood safety.
• Exports from areas outside Fukushima are expected to resume first after Chinese authorities confirm the absence of contaminants.