Japan May Take China to WTO Over Fukushima-Driven Seafood Import Ban, According to Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan has indicated its intention to bring a complaint against China at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in response to Beijing’s ban on all Japanese seafood imports following the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

During a press briefing, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi stated that Japan would consider "necessary action (on China’s aquatic product ban) through various channels, including the WTO framework." Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi added that filing a WTO complaint could be an option if diplomatic efforts to address the matter with China prove unproductive.

These statements come amid a rise in harassment calls aimed at Japanese businesses and public institutions from Chinese phone numbers, with many reporting complaints regarding the Fukushima water release. The Fukushima prefectural government noted that approximately 3,000 such calls had been received, according to local news sources.

Tokyo Electric Power, the operator of the nuclear plant, has reported about 6,000 similar calls and is currently working with telecommunications companies to block these disruptive communications. A spokesperson from NTT Communications mentioned an increasing number of landline users requesting to block calls from foreign numbers. In response to government requests, NTT and other telecommunications firms like KDDI and SoftBank are exploring potential measures.

NTT East, which serves the eastern region of Japan, including Fukushima, has established a customer service center specifically for handling harassment calls from abroad. Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura expressed his concerns during a news conference, noting that some of the calls have even reached hospitals. He urged the public to cease these calls immediately, emphasizing the serious nature of the situation.

The government is also gathering data on reports of potential boycotts of Japanese products in China and intends to collaborate with business leaders to address these challenges. Additionally, Japan is conducting interviews with local travel agencies to assess the state of travel from China, following media reports of canceled tours to Japan.

Land Minister Tetsuo Saito shared that some travel agencies have reported receiving cancellation requests, while others have received inquiries regarding the safety of food and beverages, as well as the prospects of rescheduling or canceling tours. This development comes shortly after China lifted pandemic-related restrictions on group tours to Japan and other significant markets.