On Tuesday, the government welcomed Japan's decision to reform
imports of dried laver (edible seaweed) from China.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced
on Monday that the country, the world's biggest consumer of laver,
would remove restrictions on the origin of its imports this
year.
The Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports of the Chinese Ministry of
Commerce responded with a statement on Tuesday saying that it
was glad to see that Japan had amended its quota system and would
treat Chinese dried laver producers equally to those from South
Korea.
The ministry said it hoped Japan would fulfill its commitments
to ensure its dried laver trade with China progresses smoothly.
Bilateral talks on technical issues concerning the trade will
continue between trade associations on both sides.
Meanwhile, to avoid the possibility of disordered competition
among domestic producers, the ministry has appointed the Jiangsu
Provincial Laver Association to be responsible for coordinating
exporters and to represent them in talks with Japan.
Under the new quota mechanism, Japan will increase its import
quota of dried laver to 400 million pieces this year from 240
million a year earlier.
The quotas are to be shared by all countries, whereas Japan only
allowed dried laver from South Korea to enter its market
before.
China, South Korea and Japan are the world's main producers of
dried laver.
The removal of the restrictions marks the success of China's
first investigation into foreign trade barriers, said Hu Zhijia,
lawyer for the Chinese side in this case.
Laver manufacturers, represented by the Jiangsu Provincial Laver
Association, applied to the Ministry of Commerce for an
investigation against Japan's trade discrimination on February 25
last year. The investigation began in April.
(China Daily February 23, 2005)