Fukushima Fallout Recedes: China–Japan Finalize Seafood Import Deal with Radioactivity Certification Safeguards – May 2025 Update

China and Japan are nearing an agreement to resume Japanese seafood imports into the Chinese market, signaling a potential end to the trade ban imposed by China in 2023 over concerns related to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant's treated wastewater discharge.

Under the proposed agreement, Japan will register its seafood processing facilities with Chinese authorities and ensure that all export shipments are accompanied by inspection certificates verifying the absence of radioactive substances such as cesium-137.

The anticipated resumption of imports will initially exclude products from the Fukushima region, focusing instead on seafood from other Japanese prefectures.

The 2023 ban had a significant impact on Japan's fishing industry, as China was the largest market for Japanese seafood exports.

While the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed the agreement, China has yet to officially announce the resumption of imports.

The move is seen as a step toward easing diplomatic and economic tensions between the two countries following the controversy over the Fukushima wastewater discharge.

As both nations work to rebuild trust and cooperation, the gradual lifting of the seafood import ban marks a significant development in their bilateral relations.