Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/12/20
By: Wang Cheng-chung and Christie Chen

Taipei, Dec. 20 (CNA) Japan has refused to resume discussions on an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with Taiwan until it lifts a ban on food imports from radiation-affected areas of Japan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday.

In a written report submitted to the Legislative Yuan, the MOFA said Japan is dissatisfied with Taiwan’s ban, as most advanced countries have eased their restrictions on Japanese food imports and because Taiwan has not found unacceptable levels of radiation in its inspections of Japanese food products.

Due to the ban, Japan is unwilling to resume the operation of the Taiwan-Japan Economic Partnership Committee, which is the framework for discussing the EPA, the MOFA said.    [FULL  STORY]