The Japanese government has called on members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other nations to consider lifting import restrictions on Japanese products put in place after the Fukashima Daiishi nuclear disaster last year. “I hope import restrictions imposed [by ASEAN, China and South Korea] can be reviewed on scientific data and we look forward to fruitful discussions ,” said Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Japanese senior vice-minister for foreign affairs, at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh this week. At least 44 countries and territories including the United States, Canada, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, and the European Union imposed a ban on Japanese products due to fears of radiation contamination.