Japanese government sources said it appears China has slowed down trade with Japan by erecting customs obstacles.
Officials told The Yomiuri Shimbun that the move may be a reprisal for Japan’s handling of the recent collision between a Chinese fishing boat and Japan Coast Guard vessels.
Some customs houses in China have tightened inspections of Japan-bound exports of rare earth minerals, which are vital in making many high-tech products, and ordinary goods exported to and imported from Japan.
Well-informed sources told the Yomiuri that Shanghai customs authorities decided earlier this week to immediately boost the portion of imports and exports subject to sample inspections from 30 to 100%.
UPI.com reports that, according to the same sources, Shanghai’s quarantine authorities have also raised quarantine inspections of commodities from 10 to 50%.