Taiwan has decided to lift its restrictions on the import of food items from Japan. The embargo was put in place in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 over safety concerns. This move is expected to boost bilateral trade ties and demonstrates Taiwan’s confidence in the safety of Japanese food products. Dates for the official lift and details of the deregulation are yet to be announced.

In Japan, food safety and assurance of quality are very important. Therefore, the lifting of Taiwan's restrictions is seen as a recognition of Japan's rigorous food safety regulations and checks. The regulatory barriers were one of the significant hurdles in Japan-Taiwan trade, hence this development is also being viewed positively for bolstering economic ties between the two countries.

Typically, in the US and EU, food import regulations are based on scientific assessments of risk. Any lifting of import restrictions, as in Taiwan's case, would also be viewed as a sign of trust in the exporting country's food safety standards, and a possible boost to economic relations.