Japan Seeks “Smooth” Trade After China Delays Shipments

Japan urged “smooth” trade after reports that China slowed customs clearance for sake and other food shipments and tightened rare-earth export controls, following months of widening Sino-Japanese friction.Minoru Kihara said exports should proceed “without hindrance” and warned China’s controls have “serious repercussions on the global supply chain,” as Beijing opened an anti-dumping probe into Japanese dichlorosilane and expanded “dual-use” restrictions that may cover heavy rare earths and magnets.Amid Taiwan-linked security strains and radar-lock incidents near Okinawa, Japan also set aside 300 million yen (about 18 million Swedish kronor) via the UN Office on Drugs and Crime to help Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and Uruguay patrol waters against illegal fishing, echoing a USA bill led by Gregory Meeks and Young Kim.