China has toughened customs clearance procedures to delay shipments to and from Japan in the wake of a territorial dispute that continues to fray relations between tthe two, a report said Monday. The move to delay shipments may be in retaliation for Tokyo's handling of the arrest of a Chinese trawler captain after his vessel collided with two Japanese Coast Guard boats in disputed waters, The Daily Yomiuri said.
It said Tokyo was investigating if Chinese customs stiffened inspections of Japan-bound exports of rare earth minerals used for high-tech products and ordinary goods exported to and imported from Japan, quoting government sources. Shanghai customs authorities have now made 100 percent of Japan-related imports and exports subject to inspection, up from 30 percent, the report said. Quarantine inspections of commodities are up to 50 percent from 10 percent.
Many air cargoes bound for Japan, including electronics parts, remained in Shanghai as a result, it said, with similar measures taken in Fujian, Guangdong and Liaoning Provinces. Shanghai customs did not immediately reply to an AFP request for comment. An official at Shanghai Haihua Shipping Co Ltd who declined to be named told AFP that its customers were reporting slower customs clearance times.