In a last-minute bid to avert further escalation of the trade war with China, Japan may delay -- by at least a couple of months -- a decision on imposing "safeguard" import restrictions on some Chinese farm products.

Government sources said Tuesday that Japan may postpone the decision from early next month until sometime next year if no final settlement on the trade dispute is reached before then.

The sources said, however, that any postponement of the decision, currently to be made before Nov. 8, would occur only if Beijing pledges efforts to curb the growth in Japan-bound exports of stone leeks, "shiitake" mushrooms and rushes used for tatami floor mats.