China’s suspension of imports of all aquatic products from Japan: International legal basis and future prospects

On August 24, 2023, Japan launched the plan to discharge nuclear wastewater into the sea that may last for 30 years. In order to protect the health and food safety of Chinese consumers, China decided to completely suspend the import of all Japanese aquatic products from the same day on. According to relevant rules of the WTO, Members have the right to take certain measures to restrict or prohibit international trade to protect human, animal or plant life or health; while also have the obligation to avoid trade measures being an obstacle to the international economic and trade order. In order to avoid and, if necessary, respond to any possible international trade disputes, it is vital to systematically analyze the international legal basis for China's trade measures, summarize relevant rules of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, draw lessons from key international practices such as the Korea-Radionuclides case, test the application of relevant provisions and principles, and explore future prospects for solving the trade and environmental challenges caused by the discharge of nuclear wastewater.