G7 Urges Swift Action: Repeal Bans on Japanese Food, Puts Pressure on China

The G7 Urges “Immediate Repeal” of Import Restrictions on Japanese Food Products

Iwaki, Japan – Local staff at Hisanohama Port in Iwaki, northeastern Japan, worked alongside experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as scientists from China, South Korea, and Canada, to carefully package samples of fish and transport them in a cold box. The purpose of this collaboration was to examine the impact of releasing wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The importance of this endeavor is highlighted by the recent statement from the Group of Seven (G7) industrial powers, which expressed their concern over import curbs on Japanese food products and called for their immediate repeal.

The G7 trade ministers, in a 10-page statement after their weekend meeting in Osaka, denounced the rising economic coercion through trade and actions to weaponize economic dependencies. The ministers emphasized their commitment to build free, fair, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationships.

Specifically, the G7 statement references China’s recent restrictions on Japanese fish imports in response to the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima plant. While both Japan and the U.S. have voiced their dissatisfaction with these curbs, Russia has also implemented a similar restriction this month. The G7, comprised of the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and Canada, did not mention China by name in their statement but it is widely understood that this call for the repeal of import restrictions pertains to China’s actions.

The G7 ministers further expressed their concern regarding recent control measures on the export of critical minerals. Specifically, China’s export curbs on graphite, a key material used in electric vehicle batteries, have been viewed as an attempt to control critical mineral supply and maintain global manufacturing dominance. The G7 trade ministers underscored the need to reduce dependence on a particular country for critical resources and emphasized the importance of building resilient and reliable supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors, and batteries.

The statement also addresses other non-market policies, such as pervasive, opaque, and trade-distortive industrial subsidies, as well as forced technology transfer. The G7 ministers believe that these policies pose significant challenges to fair and open trade.

The G7 statement additionally condemned Russia for its destruction of Ukrainian grain export infrastructure during its invasion of the country. The officials also expressed their disappointment with Moscow’s decision to unilaterally leave talks on an agreement that allowed Ukraine to export wheat and other products through the Black Sea.

Unlike the G7 finance ministers’ meeting two weeks ago, during which “terror attacks” by Hamas on Israel were condemned, the trade ministers did not directly mention the Middle East crisis. Instead, they focused on the challenges of moving humanitarian goods across international borders during natural disasters and emergencies.

It is important to note that this statement from the G7 trade ministers comes at a time of heightened international concern over the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with growing calls for a pause in the fighting to allow aid to reach Palestinian civilians in Gaza. While Western countries have generally supported Israel’s right to self-defense, the toll of the conflict has prompted concerns and calls for humanitarian assistance.