China has agreed to lift its ban on Japanese seafood imports, which had been in place since 2023 due to concerns over treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant. The announcement came after high-level meetings between officials in Beijing, according to Japan’s Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. He said seafood exports are essential for Japan’s economy and praised the decision as a major breakthrough. Imports will restart once the final documents are completed.
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya also welcomed the move, calling it a positive step for improving ties between the two countries. However, China will still block seafood products from ten Japanese regions, including Fukushima. Japanese authorities said they will continue working to have those remaining bans removed. China’s customs agency noted that recent technical talks made progress but did not confirm a final agreement date.
The original ban started in 2023 after Japan began releasing treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. China said the move could harm fishing grounds and coastal communities, especially in eastern China. Japan, in contrast, said the release met global safety standards. Officials explained that removing the treated water was needed to keep the decommissioning process on track and avoid the risk of leaks from the damaged plant.
To ease concerns, Japan and China held three rounds of technical talks since March 2025. These discussions helped both sides agree on the conditions for restarting seafood trade. Japan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the agreement this week, though no date for the return of exports has been shared yet.
The Fukushima nuclear plant was damaged in 2011 by a massive earthquake and tsunami. Three reactors melted down, and ever since, water used to cool them has built up on-site. In August 2023, Japan began mixing the radioactive water with seawater and then releasing it into the ocean in stages. The move caused strong reactions from Japan’s fishing industry, which feared lasting damage to the reputation of its seafood. Protests also took place in South Korea and China.
Before the ban, China was Japan’s biggest seafood buyer, purchasing more than 20 percent of all seafood exports. The loss of this market hit scallop farmers and other producers especially hard. In response, Japan launched emergency aid to help exporters find new markets overseas. Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the Fukushima plant, also promised to compensate businesses affected by the trade bans.
Despite the new deal, some restrictions remain. China’s ban on products from certain areas—especially near the nuclear plant—will stay in place for now. Japanese officials stressed that they will keep pushing to lift those limits, using science-based arguments and international support.
As Japan prepares to resume seafood trade with China, exporters are hopeful that the deal will bring relief to a hard-hit industry. The government continues to work closely with China to rebuild trust and ensure food safety. More updates will follow as both countries move ahead with the agreement.