This is something I don't really like about the WTO.
If a populace doesn't want some product in their country you shouldn't force them to have it.
this post was submitted on 30 Aug 2023
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True but in this case it's not populace deciding to make the food import ban, it's the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). They are using this opportunity to create a impact on Japan’s economy which is already struggling under the strain of inflation the country hasn't experienced in decades.
It is just political posturing and nothing else. Not out of concern for the Chinese people.
You may be right about the CCP's motivations, but there's more to it.
Nuclear safety is an issue of much public anxiety in China and there have been public protests about things like nuclear power plant sites.
There also seems to be a fair amount of misinformation about nuclear stuff - not least because people sometimes don't trust government spokespeople and govt sanctioned "experts". Rumours about Fukushima have been part of that.
Their government may well be capitalizing on it for the reasons you suggest, but a fear of Fukushima fish totally does track with the Chinese public.
Heck, would you risk Fukushima fish?
If I still ate fish, I would eat Fukushima fish. The mercury is probably going to do more damage than a trace amount of radiation. I'll eat some Fukushima seaweed.
No. I know in theory it's safe but I prefer not to entrust my safety to theories.
Are they wrong though? I definitely wouldn't want to eat that fish. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/24/fukushima-fish-with-180-times-legal-limit-of-radioactive-cesium-fuels-water-release-fears
It's already pretty telling that Japan is trying to export it when they're a huge seafood consumer themselves to the point where they rely on imports
Why want to get rid of Fukushima fish when it's supposedly safe to eat?
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TOKYO, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Japan threatened on Tuesday to take China to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to seek a reversal of Beijing's ban on all of its seafood imports after the release of treated radioactive water from the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that Japan would take "necessary action (on China's aquatic product ban) under various routes including the WTO framework".
Filing a WTO complaint might become an option if protesting to China through diplomatic routes is ineffective, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi said separately.
The comments came as Japanese businesses and public facilities continued to receive harassment calls from phone numbers with the +86 Chinese country code, with many reporting callers complaining of the Fukushima water release.
NTT East, which serves the eastern half of the country including Fukushima, said it had set up a customer service centre on Tuesday specifically for harassment calls from overseas, in response to the government's plea.
The minister said the government was gathering information on the reports of movements to boycott Japanese products in China and would work with business leaders to address the situation.
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