Japan may take China to WTO over Fukushima-driven seafood import ban ( www.reuters.com )

liv , 10 months ago

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.

Recant , 10 months ago

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.

liv , 10 months ago

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.

acockworkorange , 10 months ago

Heck, would you risk Fukushima fish?

liv , 10 months ago (edited 10 months ago)

No. I know in theory it’s safe but I prefer not to entrust my safety to theories.

I_am_10_squirrels , 10 months ago

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.

Krachsterben , 10 months ago

Are they wrong though? I definitely wouldn’t want to eat that fish. theguardian.com/…/fukushima-fish-with-180-times-l…

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?