Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced that a senior official confirmed China’s effective suspension of Japanese seafood imports on November 19, 2025. The link to poor radiation inspections The suspension comes as a direct response to the Department of Transportation’s poor quality inspections. Observers suspect it is a punishment for comments made by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi on Taiwan.
The announcement, which was made in Tokyo at 15:24 JST, detailed the complications arising from the bilateral trade relationship between Japan and China, particularly in the seafood sector. Earlier last month, Japan celebrated the lifting of its own ban on seafood exports to China after a 2013 embargo. Nevertheless, this suspension was a big blow to Japanese exporters.
According to a senior official from Japan’s Ministry, concerns over radiation inspection gave rise to the suspension. This explanation was released as the stated justification for rolling back the policy. Analysts point out that the timing of this decision directly overlaps with Takaichi calling for greater support for Taiwan. This raises the concern that political dynamics are getting in the way of healthy trade relations.
Japan and China have a relatively long history of exporting to Japan, which is known for its large variety and high quality seafood-related products. A recent series of events have put the vulnerability of this important trade connection into sharp relief. This is particularly true considering the increasingly geopolitical tensions emerging in the region.
The Ministry confirmed that the announcement regarding the import suspension was updated later on the same day at 21:36 JST, highlighting the urgency and significance of the issue. The announcement has triggered deep concern among US-based Japanese seafood exporters. Among other things, they were excited to build relationships with their Chinese counterparts once trade was restored.