On Tuesday, the government welcomed Japan's decision to reform imports of dried laver (edible seaweed) from China.

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced on Monday that the country, the world's biggest consumer of laver, would remove restrictions on the origin of its imports this year.

The Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce responded with a statement on Tuesday saying that it was glad to see that Japan had amended its quota system and would treat Chinese dried laver producers equally to those from South Korea.

The ministry said it hoped Japan would fulfill its commitments to ensure its dried laver trade with China progresses smoothly.

Bilateral talks on technical issues concerning the trade will continue between trade associations on both sides.

Meanwhile, to avoid the possibility of disordered competition among domestic producers, the ministry has appointed the Jiangsu Provincial Laver Association to be responsible for coordinating exporters and to represent them in talks with Japan.

Under the new quota mechanism, Japan will increase its import quota of dried laver to 400 million pieces this year from 240 million a year earlier.

The quotas are to be shared by all countries, whereas Japan only allowed dried laver from South Korea to enter its market before.

China, South Korea and Japan are the world's main producers of dried laver.

The removal of the restrictions marks the success of China's first investigation into foreign trade barriers, said Hu Zhijia, lawyer for the Chinese side in this case.

Laver manufacturers, represented by the Jiangsu Provincial Laver Association, applied to the Ministry of Commerce for an investigation against Japan's trade discrimination on February 25 last year. The investigation began in April.

(China Daily February 23, 2005)