China, Japan Reach Deal to Restart Seafood Trade

China has consented on procedures to resume imports of Japanese seafood products, Japan’s government said on Friday, marking a step towards ending a nearly two-year trade ban. The embargo stems from the 2023 release of treated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. 

Officials from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and China’s Customs reached the accord during a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday, the ministry said, adding that China-bound seafood exports were expected to resume after China completes “necessary procedures”. 

Note: Under the agreed measures, Japan will register fishery processing facilities with Chinese authorities, and exports will include inspection certificates confirming the absence of radioactive substances. 

Yesterday, women’s doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan failed to make it to the semi-finals of the Singapore Open after losing to China’s Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian. The Malaysian world No. 4 pair lost 21-14, 22-24, 14-21 to their 11th ranked rivals in a match that lasted 72 minutes. 

After winning the first game, Pearly-Thinaah were on the brink of winning the tie when they had match points twice in the second game. However, Yi Fan-Shu Xian made a comeback and forced a rubber game, which saw a point-for-point exchange before the Chinese pair won the match. 

Pearly-Thinaah have met the Chinese shuttlers four times so far in their career and lost on three occasions.