China will begin importing seafood from Japan again, ending a ban that started in 2023. Japan’s Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi confirmed the agreement after government talks took place this week in Beijing. The ban was put in place after Japan released treated and diluted radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the ocean. China had raised concerns about possible risks to its eastern coastal areas and marine life.
Koizumi said the new deal is a big step forward for Japan’s seafood trade. Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya also called the move a key step toward fixing ongoing trade issues between the two nations. Talks in Beijing were described as “substantive,” although China has not officially confirmed the full details of the deal.
Despite this progress, China still blocks farm and seafood goods from ten Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima. This partial ban shows that full trade normalization will take more time.
China’s original decision to stop seafood imports was due to worries over the environmental impact of Japan’s water release from the Fukushima plant. Japan has strongly defended its actions. Officials explained that the released water was cleaned, diluted, and safe. They also said the step was needed to remove old water from the site and avoid any accidental leaks in the future.
The Japanese government has continued to provide updates and science-based data to prove the water is safe. These efforts included three negotiation rounds with China since March, focusing on safety standards for seafood trade.
This week, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said that technical agreements were reached with China. These agreements aim to set clear rules to restart seafood exports. However, both sides did not say when shipments will begin.
Before the 2023 ban, China was Japan’s largest seafood buyer, purchasing more than 20% of its seafood exports. Hong Kong was also a major importer of Japanese fish and shellfish. The ban caused serious losses for many seafood businesses in Japan.
The root of this trade dispute goes back to the 2011 nuclear crisis. A powerful earthquake and tsunami hit Japan that year, damaging the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Three nuclear reactors melted down, and workers had to use large amounts of water to cool them. This water became contaminated and was stored at the site.
Over time, storage became a challenge. In August 2023, Japan began releasing the treated water into the sea. The Tokyo Electric Power Company, which runs the plant, said it followed strict global safety rules.
Even so, the water release triggered protests in Japan, China, and South Korea. Japanese fishermen were especially worried that their seafood would be seen as unsafe, even if it was not. Communities in other countries feared the release could harm the sea and marine life in the long run.
In response, Japan set up support programs for exporters who lost income. Scallop producers were among the hardest hit. The government also worked to find new markets in Southeast Asia and other regions. Tokyo Electric Power also promised to pay compensation to businesses that suffered because of the ban.
Now, with talks moving forward, Japan hopes the seafood trade with China will fully return to normal soon. While the latest deal does not end all trade limits, it marks an important shift in relations between the two countries. The decision could help rebuild trust and ease other tensions linked to the 2011 nuclear disaster.