Japan and China Agree to Regular Trade Talks Amid Strained Relations

Focus on Export Controls as China Tightens Grip on Key Materials

Japan and China have agreed to establish a framework to discuss export controls, aiming to stabilize strained relations.
The dialogue will be held by officials at the level of director-general and section chief, who are in charge of export controls.
China has recently imposed curbs on the exports of some materials, including chipmaking metals like gallium, and is expected to restrict exports of graphite, used in batteries, in December.
The talks are aimed at preventing an escalation of retaliatory trade disputes with China.
Relations between China and Japan have been particularly strained over recent months, with Japan releasing treated radioactive water from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean and China arresting a Japanese executive on suspicion of espionage.