Recent reports indicate a slowdown in the customs clearance procedures for Japanese food goods heading to the Chinese market, leading to significant delays. This has not only strained economic relations between Japan and China but has also raised concerns among Japanese food exporters who rely heavily on the Chinese market for profitability. Causes for these slowdowns have not been specified yet, though both countries' authorities are purportedly investigating the issue.

In Japan, food exports play a significant role in the economy and delays in customs procedures are considered a serious issue. Japan exports a wide range of food items to China, so any delay can affect a wide section of the export industry. Moreover, Japanese consumers value the safety and quality of food, both domestically and abroad, so any implication of the customs delay being related to safety procedures could raise public concern.

In the US or EU, customs delays can also pose economic challenges, but these regions may have more diverse trade partners which could alleviate the impact. Moreover, mechanisms for dispute resolution over trade issues might be more established compared to Japan's relations with China.