Japan's proposal to avoid setting a uniform cap on farm import tariffs drew fire from major agricultural exporters at a weeklong session of talks at the World Trade Organization that opened Monday.
Exporting countries have proposed a uniform cap of 25 percent on all farm import tariffs and called for drastic reductions in domestic and export subsidies. But Japan proposed that the WTO adopt a "Uruguay Round" method, combining minimum market access and average tariff cuts instead of a uniform cap.
Japan's proposal, unveiled Thursday, pushes for average tariff cuts and leaves room for setting higher tariffs on different items.