Gallagher, Krishnamoorthi Joint Statement on PRC Suspension of Japanese Seafood Imports

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Chairman Mike Gallagher and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, released the following statement regarding the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) suspension of imports of all Japanese seafood products in response to Tokyo Electric Power’s release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

“The PRC’s sweeping suspension of all Japanese seafood imports is unacceptable and must be reversed. These measures are clearly coercive in nature and have no merit according to International Atomic Energy Agency, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s safety reviews. This is another example of PRC malign economic coercion that we have seen across the globe and is designed to damage the Japanese seafood industry. It is also a further reminder that we must protect our economic security by building resilient supply chains and ensuring that the U.S. and our trading partners cannot be held hostage by PRC economic coercion in the future. To counter the PRC’s economic coercion, we should consider measures to boost U.S. procurement of Japanese seafood, work with Japan to find options to increase capacity for seafood processing in countries other than the PRC and strengthen U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s ability to perform inspections of seafood from the PRC.

"In addition, it is essential that Congress pass legislation to counter the PRC’s economic coercion, including the creation of new tools to support countries and companies who are targeted by the PRC and hold accountable the PRC entities that facilitate the CCP’s economic coercion. We look forward to working with our colleagues and the administration on these initiatives.”