G7 Urges Repeal of Bans on Japanese Food, Stresses Unity and Strong Supply Chains

The G7 trade ministers have called for the "immediate repeal" of import restrictions on Japanese food products, referring to China's bans following Japan's release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The G7 also expressed concern over China's control measures on critical minerals and denounced its rising economic coercion through trade. The ministers emphasized the need to reduce dependence on a particular country for critical resources and reaffirmed their concerns about non-market policies such as industrial subsidies and forced technology transfer. Additionally, the G7 condemned Russia's destruction of Ukrainian grain export infrastructure and its decision to unilaterally leave talks on an agreement allowing Ukraine to export wheat through the Black Sea. The ministers did not mention the Middle East crisis but highlighted the challenges of moving humanitarian goods across borders during emergencies.