Japanese ministers indicated Tuesday that the government might file a complaint to the World Trade Organization over China's decision to ban all imports of Japanese seafood after treated radioactive water began being released into the sea from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Economic security minister Sanae Takaichi said during a news conference, "We are entering a stage where we should consider countermeasures" against the import restrictions imposed by China, including filing a complaint to the global trade body, if "lodging a protest through a diplomatic channel is not effective."
Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also said at a separate news conference that Japan will take "necessary steps under frameworks such as the WTO" and underscored the importance of "close communication" between the two countries, in order to maintain a "constructive" relationship.