Tokyo. The Group of Seven (G7) industrial powers on Sunday called for the “immediate lifting” of restrictions on imports of Japanese food products, referring to the blockade by China after Japan began dumping wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

G7 trade ministers, in a statement after a weekend meeting in Osaka, did not mention China but also criticized what they saw as increasing economic pressure through trade.

“We deplore actions that militarize economic interdependence and are committed to building free, fair and mutually beneficial economic and trade relations,” the 10-page statement said.

China broadly suspended imports of Japanese fish two months ago, when Japan began dumping treated radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima plant into the Pacific. Although Japan and the United States called the restrictions unfair, Russia announced similar restrictions earlier this month.

In response, China called the G7’s move “economic coercion” and urged the G7 not to “stubbornly adhere to double standards” but take practical steps to maintain the normal order of international trade and investment.

“G7 members undermine equal competition and undermine the security and stability of global production and supply chains,” the Chinese Embassy in Japan said late Sunday.

The G7 – the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada – also expressed “concern” over recent control measures on critical mineral exports.

AI Regulation

On the other hand, the G7 will on Monday approve a code of conduct for companies developing advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems, according to a document, at a time when governments are trying to mitigate the risks and possible misuse of this technology.

The voluntary code of conduct would mark a milestone in the way major countries regulate AI, amid concerns about privacy and security risks, according to documents seen by Reuters.