TOKYO: The U.S. military has started buying Japanese seafood in bulk to counter China’s ban.
U.S. ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said the Japanese and the U.S. government are looking towards a long-term contract.
The Chinese government imposed a ban on Japanese food imports two months ago.
U.S. buys just shy of a metric ton
Reuters reported that the U.S. military bought just a little less than what China used to buy.
Japan exported 100,000 tons of scallops to mainland China last year, the report said.
“Emanuel said the purchases – which will feed soldiers in messes and aboard vessels as well as being sold in shops and restaurants on military bases,” Reuters wrote.
China’s ban on Japanese food
China imposed a ban on Japanese food imports two months ago.
The restrictions were imposed when Japan released treated water from Fukushima nuclear power in the Pacific Ocean.
The G7 recently urged the Chinese government to lift the ban and not weaponizing economic dependency.
