The transport ministry has begun deliberating a new law to cut carbon dioxide emissions from goods distributed by truck by supporting businesses that switch to rail and marine transport, ministry officials said.

The government plans to submit a bill to next year's regular Diet session at the earliest, the officials of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry said.

The measure is part of efforts to achieve the nation's legally binding requirement to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 6 percent from 1990 levels under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on curbing greenhouse gases.