QUID PRO QUO:Taiwan wants Japan to open its market to five fruits, an official said, but a ban on food imports from five Japanese prefectures is obstructing progress

Taipei Times
Date: Nov 27, 2016
By: Staff writer, with CNA

Important issues concerning agriculture will be brought to the negotiating table in annual trade and economic talks between Taiwan and Japan that are to be held in Taipei on Tuesday and Wednesday, a Taiwanese official who declined to be named said.

Discussions on agricultural issues were suspended in the Taiwan-Japan Trade and Economic Meeting last year due to Japan’s dissatisfaction with Taiwan’s refusal to ease a ban on food imports from five prefectures in Japan, over fears of radiation contamination following a meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.

For this year’s meeting, Japan seems to have changed its mind now that Taiwan has a new president — President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of the Democratic Progressive Party, who took office on May 20.

This year, the Japanese side has expressed a willingness to discuss the impasse, the official — who is to attend the talks — said yesterday.    [FULL  STORY]