ID :
31727
Sat, 11/22/2008 - 22:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/31727
The shortlink copeid
Japan eyes easing rules for companies to apply for special tariffs
TOKYO, Nov. 22 Kyodo - The Finance Ministry may make it easier for Japanese companies to file for antidumping and other special tariffs from next spring to prevent the spread of unfairly low-priced foreign goods from hurting domestic industries, sources close to the matter said Saturday.
By easing the procedures for companies to apply for the special tariffs, Japan
hopes to combat unfair trade practices by foreign firms that are likely to
damage a broad range of industries, including the semiconductor, iron and
steel, and textile industries.
The government plans to study a report to be submitted in December by an
advisory panel of the Finance Ministry on tariffs and foreign exchange. It will
then aim to revise the government ordinance to implement the new application
procedures from next April, the sources said.
Amid concerns about slowing global trade due to the global financial crisis,
experts warn that countries like China and South Korea, which have previously
been slapped with similar tariffs, will oppose the Japanese move. It also comes
just after world leaders have pledged to resist a shift toward protectionism
amid fears of a global recession.
Under the current application procedure, Japanese companies requesting the
imposition of special tariffs need to provide evidence that they have incurred
damage from the dumping measures of a trading partner company.
With the possible revision in April, they will basically be able to file the
application first and then prepare the necessary evidence before the government
actually begins an investigation on whether to impose the tariffs.
The number of times Japan has imposed tariffs is low compared to other major
advanced countries like the United States.
Japan imposed special tariffs, including others like countervailing, punitive
and emergency duties, a total of seven times since it first imposed an
antidumping tariff on one type of ferroalloy from China and other nations in
1993.
In contrast, Japanese companies have been slapped with antidumping tariffs in
over 100 cases from countries like the United States since 1995, according to
the World Trade Organization.
Japanese business groups have been urging the government to make the
application procedure faster and more flexible to correct what they see as
unbalanced trading practices. In response, the government set up an expert
panel to study past cases for a possible revision of the current system.
==Kyodo
By easing the procedures for companies to apply for the special tariffs, Japan
hopes to combat unfair trade practices by foreign firms that are likely to
damage a broad range of industries, including the semiconductor, iron and
steel, and textile industries.
The government plans to study a report to be submitted in December by an
advisory panel of the Finance Ministry on tariffs and foreign exchange. It will
then aim to revise the government ordinance to implement the new application
procedures from next April, the sources said.
Amid concerns about slowing global trade due to the global financial crisis,
experts warn that countries like China and South Korea, which have previously
been slapped with similar tariffs, will oppose the Japanese move. It also comes
just after world leaders have pledged to resist a shift toward protectionism
amid fears of a global recession.
Under the current application procedure, Japanese companies requesting the
imposition of special tariffs need to provide evidence that they have incurred
damage from the dumping measures of a trading partner company.
With the possible revision in April, they will basically be able to file the
application first and then prepare the necessary evidence before the government
actually begins an investigation on whether to impose the tariffs.
The number of times Japan has imposed tariffs is low compared to other major
advanced countries like the United States.
Japan imposed special tariffs, including others like countervailing, punitive
and emergency duties, a total of seven times since it first imposed an
antidumping tariff on one type of ferroalloy from China and other nations in
1993.
In contrast, Japanese companies have been slapped with antidumping tariffs in
over 100 cases from countries like the United States since 1995, according to
the World Trade Organization.
Japanese business groups have been urging the government to make the
application procedure faster and more flexible to correct what they see as
unbalanced trading practices. In response, the government set up an expert
panel to study past cases for a possible revision of the current system.
==Kyodo
