Imports of three agricultural products involved in a recently settled trade dispute between Japan and China have dropped simultaneously from year-earlier levels for the first time, according to the latest weekly trade data, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
Imports of stone leeks fell 4 percent to 707 tons, marking a first drop in three weeks, while those of shiitake fell 14 percent to 1,156 tons, logging a seventh straight weekly decline.
Moreover, imports of rushes, used in tatami, dropped 39 percent to 483 tons, marking a third straight weekly dip.
In April, Japan invoked safeguard curbs on surging imports of the three products, which come mostly from China, on a 200-day preliminary basis.
China retaliated in June by slapping punitive tariffs on imported Japanese motor vehicles, mobile phones and air conditioners.
After the temporary safeguard ended Nov. 8, Japan began monitoring and releasing weekly data on their imports.
The two countries struck a deal last month to resolve the row and set up a trade panel to negotiate production, demand and hence trade levels for the three products.
The panel's inaugural meeting is planned for early February.