[April 13, 2006] China's plan to halt disposable chopsticks exports to affect Japan Tweet (Asia In Focus Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, April 13 Asia in Focus - Japan depends on China for 90 per cent of its disposable chopsticks, so reports from importers that China plans to cease exports to Japan by 2008 are bad news for convenience stores, supermarkets and restaurants. The Chinese government and chopstick manufacturers announced around mid-March that exports would be reduced in a measure to protect China's forest resources. * But now it appears that exports will eventually be halted altogether. * Japan goes through some 24 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks a year, 90 per cent of which come from China. SUMMARY China's plan to halt disposable chopsticks exports to affect Japan which relies on China for 90% of its needs ASIA IN FOCUS 13-04 1920 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]