In order to improve market access for imports from the least-developed countries, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry has decided to increase from April the number of industrial products to which preferential duties are applied, the ministry announced Tuesday.
MITI plans to add some 350 items to the list of industrial products exempted from tariffs. At the same time, the ministry plans to expand the number of least-developed countries eligible for the preferential measure from the current 42 to 48.
Out of 7,077 industrial products, Japan currently exempts 6,620 items, or about 94, percent from tariffs. The proposed measure will increase the number of nontariff items to 6,972 items, or about 99 percent.
The proposed measure is in accord with a policy to promote confidence-building measures to encourage less-developed countries to actively participate in global trade talks under the World Trade Organization, according to a MITI official.
On the same day, Takeo Hiranuma, minister of international trade and industry, informed European Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy of the decision in a telephone conversation.