China bans shellfish imports from US West Coast

[mitty14u2]

SEATTLE (AP) — China has suspended imports of shellfish from the U.S. West Coast, cutting off one of the biggest export markets for Northwest companies.

KUOW public radio reports (http://bit.ly/1fe35To) that the Chinese government imposed the ban after discovering that recent shipments of geoduck clams from Northwest waters had high levels of arsenic and a toxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning.

The Chinese government says the ban that started last week will continue indefinitely.

Clams, oysters and all other two-shelled bivalves harvested off Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Northern California are affected.

The U.S. exported $68 million worth of geoduck clams last year — most of which came from Puget Sound. Nearly 90 percent of those geoduck exports went to China.

http://hosted2.ap.org/ORBEN/b9c78830725e4646849871a247322f76/Article_2013-12-14-China%20Shellfish%20Ban/id-801e16596b614f66b835a9cdf67d6daa

South Korea bans fish imports from Japan's Fukushima region

Seoul blames 'scientifically unacceptable' information from Tepco over radiation levels in waters around nuclear plant

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/06/south-korea-fish-japan-fukushima

Is China getting worried how far the radiation levels in waters around nuclear plant have spread?

[Deep13]

1. I think it is in retaliation for American sabre-rattling in the Pacific.

Frankly, the idea that the Chinese would stop imports because of possible negative health effects or environmental concerns is completely out of character for that government.

[Politicalboi]

2. Why not make kitty treats China

This shit is scary. We need to demand that Japan let others help them clean up. Killing millions over pride is insane.

[dionysus]

3. not enough lead and melamine it it for them? nt

[Left Coast2020]

4. Oh damn...I was just going to ask Beijing the same thing....

...if there wasn't enough diesel fumes/pollution with the shipment.

I am always reminded of standing at a bus stop in Shenyang and being sprayed with a hugh whiff of diesel exhaust. Not so much in Beijing because I rode the subway. But still, its etched in my nostrils.