Reuters (February 4)
“Japan’s exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products rose 3.7% to a record high in 2024, despite China’s ban on seafood imports following Tokyo Electric Power’s discharge from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.” These exports reached 1.507 trillion yen ($9.7 billion) last year, up nearly from 1.5 trillion yen from 2023. “Exports to China plunged 29.1% to 168.1 billion yen in 2024, but exports to the United States rose 17.8% to 242.9 billion yen, making the U.S. Japan’s top export destination for the first time in 20 years.”
Tags: 2024, 3.7%, Agricultural, Ban, China, Exports, Fishery, Forestry, Fukushima, Imports, Japan, Record high, Seafood, Tepco, U.S.
The Economist (November 5)
“Once the Fukushima nuclear plant is stable, the government should temporarily nationalise its operator.” The Economist believes the government must “act fast to nationalise Tepco, and hold it temporarily in public ownership as it clears out the old management and oversees the clean-up. Then it should reprivatise a thoroughly reformed utility.”
Tags: Clean-up, Fukushima, Government, Management, Tepco