Talks between Japan and China over Beijing's import ban on some Japanese food products have not been held for over a year, sources familiar with bilateral relations have said.
As China has not responded to Japan's request for resuming the talks amid soured bilateral ties, it is uncertain when the ban will be lifted, with the deadlock possibly affecting discussions on China's accession to a major Pacific free trade deal, the sources said.
In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, Beijing banned imports of food products from Fukushima and several other prefectures over the risks of radioactive contamination. Japan has been asking China to hold a third meeting of a panel they established to discuss lifting the ban, the sources said.