GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE

Transcription

1 GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE RESTRICTED CM#II/45 29 îanuaxy 9é Limited Distribution Oommittee II ~ Expansion of Trade Original: English OOIBULTATIOtB ON AGRICULTURAL POLICIES JAPAN Commodity Information Attaohed for the information of the Committee is the reply of the Government nf Japan to the questionnaire in Annex B to document CGM.II/5.

2 OOM. /45 p age 2 CEREALS. Definition ef products; Tariff item No, See "paragraph 2". 2. Tariff measures Rice or Paddy Barley Wheat Tariff item No General rate 5$* $* 2$* GATT rate Corn 29 $** $*** (Only for feedingstuffs) Notes * Rice or paddy, barley and wheat shall be exempted from import duty until 3 March 96. ** Corn used for feedingstuffs is exempted in practice from import duty under the Customs Tariff Law. *** Tariff concession on corn for feedingstuffs was originally granted to the United States. 3. Nontariff measures Rice, barley and wheat are the most important foods of the people and the major products of Japanese agriculture. The policy of the Government for these products aims at stabilizing people's living «onditions and ensuring fair return to the growers. For this purpose, the Government oontrols the prises and marketing of rice, barley and wheat, pursuant to the Food Control Law of 942. (See document CM.Il/2(p)/Rev.l and Report on State trading L/784/Add.l) 4. Quantitative restrictions (a) Rice, barley and wheat (i) (ii) Annual import scheme for rice, barley and wheat is worked out by the Food Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on the basis of the national supply and demand of the relevant food. In accordance with this scheme, rice, barley and wheat are imported on the global quota basis. (b) Corn (iii) Barley and wheat are imported on a commercial basis without discrimination. With regard to rice which is also imported on a nondiscriminatory and commercial basis as a rule, there are in force the bilateral agreements between Japan and Taiwan, Thailand and Burma, respectively, in connexion with its kind, quality, quantity and price. At the same time, however, due regard is being paid with a view to securing the fair share of the other exporting countries. No restriction exists (automatic approval basis).

3 COM./45 Page 3 5, Ex^hangajractiçes 6» State, trading As regards rice, barley and wheat, see CM.II/2(p)/Rev.l and Report on State trading L/784/Add,l. As for corn, there is no Statetrading operation. 7. Subsidies on domestic production A brief description of the price support system for rice, barley and wheat is given in CM n II/2(p)/Rsv,l. As for the production subsidies, see CM.II/2(p)/Rev,l and Report on Subsidies L/3, 8«Export subsidies 9 LoYel of protection See Table I attached.. Statistical information See Table II attached.

4 COM./45 Page 4 Table I ^^Q^ÎLÇiSs^ BaxleXan^Jtoeajt (Unit: US p D o ni e s t c m p o r t e d / Government purchase price Government selling price Consumer price Government purchase price Government selling price Consumer price Rice 85,33 86e , ol « * ' Barley ~ = «heat 99, , , Notes : (a) Government purchase prices and selling prices; For domestic rice? the purchase price is the average price for rice produced in the year concerned and the selling prices are the prices fixed by the Government. For doraesti; barley and wheat, the prices are of standard brands produced in the year concerned. For Imported rice, barley and «heat, the prices are Lased on the average importation prices during the fiscal year (from April to Mar^h). (b) Consumer price: The Government fixes a consumer price for rice, but not for barley and ahest.

5 v_ ^ Table II Liaaarts^ I lone Production, Exoorts end Consumption of Cereals Quar.'ity, tons Value USf, Quant. Value Quant. Value Quant. Value Quant. Value Quant. Value Quant. Value Rice* Imports ljtal supplies Exports as 2 of home consumption 9,386 2,59,445 6, ,293,432 25,782 9, , ,27,246 96,645 2, , ,98,432, , , ,5,678,779,364. 5,677.9,779, Barley Home Production Imports TtrUI supflles Exports as 2 of home consumption Wheat Imports Exports as 2 cf home consumption,555 4,569 35,534 2, , ,59 2 2> ,7 3, ,345.4 m,55 2,87 67,993 3, ,7.9 2, ,839 2, , , ,263 3,263 62,29 2, ,2 3,2 55,724 2, ,783 2, ,468 2,287 3,755 3, ,383 8,375 2,277 3,652 3, ,345 5,33 2,239 3,569 3, ,233, ,56 3, ,378 54,9 62 Corn Imports Exports as 2 of hoaa consumption Note: (a) Calendar year , _ (';) * polished rice 9, , , ,393

6 COM. /45 Page 6 SUGAR. Definition of products: Tariff item No. See "paragraph 2". 2. Tariff measures Tariff Ttaa Rate of Duty It an No. General GATT Sugar 3 /* /kg. (i) Containing not over 98 degrees of polarization, excluding soft sugar, powdered sugar mixed with staroh and the like.53 (ii) Other Rock candy, cube sugar, loaf sugar and similar sugar Nontariff measures Polioy and ob.lectites With a view to promoting the domestic production of sugarbeet and improving farm management in cold regions, the Government is taking prioesupport measures for beetsugar, under the Provisional Measures Law for. Developing BeetSugar Production of 953. The Government purchases beetsugar manufactured from the sugarbeet which is purchased from the growers at the guaranteed price. The Government purchase price for the beetsugar is set on the basis of the guaranteed price of sugarbeet established by the Government plus manufacturing cost and other expenses. For the fiscal year, the Government purchased about 2, tons of beetsugar. 4. Quantitative restrictions Raw sugar is imported on the global quota basis. However, imports of raw sugar from Taiwan is permitted under the single quota basis according to the Trade Agreement between Japan and Taiwan. 5. Exchange practices

7 COM.Il/45 Page 7 6, State trading None, 7. Subsidies on domestic production For these production subsidies, see document COM.II(p)/Rev.l and Report on Subsidies (document L/3). 8 a Export subsidies 9. Level of protection (a) Guaranteed prioe The guaranteed prioe of sugarbeet has been US$4,6 per ton during the past three years. (b) Government purchase prioe of refined beeteugar: ^958 US# per ton Note: The above data are for the fisoal year» (c) C.i.f. price of imported raw sugar: JL958 US$ per ton Note: Calendar year.. Statistical information See Table I attached.

8 Table I Imports, Home Production, Exports and Home Consumption of Sugar S B K Quantity, tons o r Value US$, œ * Quant. Quant. Value Quant. Value Quant. Value Quant. Value Quant. Value * Imports** Exports as % of home consumption 52,22, ,4 7,9, ,786, ,7 6,33, ,447, i,22 28,269,272,247,58 e.o 8,52 6,67, ,45 7.,223 2,592,333,94, Note: (a) Calendar year (b) * refined beet sugar and black sugar (c) ** raw sugar

9 COM. /45 Page 9 VEGETABLE OILS AND SEEDS. Definition of products; Tariff item No. See "paragraph 2", 2. Tariff measuros _. Item Tariff Item T+ No. Rate of Duty General GATT* Soyabean 2~ Rapeseed 25 5 Mustard seed 25 5 Copra 7 Free Free Cottonseed 29 Free Free Safflowerseed 22 Free Palmkernol 22 Free Kapok seed 22 Free Free Sesame seed 23 Free Free Peanut 23 Castor seed 28 Free Linseed 26 Free Free Rice bran 746 Free Sunflower seed 22 Free Seed of perilla ocimoides Hemp seed 27 Free p _. Item Tariff Item No. Soyabean oil 57 2 Rapeseed oil Mustardseed oil Coconut oil 55 Rate of Duty General GATT* Cottonseed oil 58 ** Safflowerseed oil Palmkernel oil 55 Kapok oil Peanut oil 56 2 Castorseed oil 53 Linseed oil 52 Ricebran oil Palm oil 55 Olive oil 54 Free Free Tung oil 59 Free ' * Tariff.bindings are: Soyabean and cottonseed oil to the United States Cottonseed and sesameseed to Nicaragua Copra and kapok seed to Indonesia Linseed to Uruguay Olive oil to Italy **Cottonseed oil to be used for the manufacture of canned fish or shellfish for export shall be exempted from customs duty. Japan reserves the right to change the procedures established for the dutyexempted treatment under the Customs Tariff Law, provided that such changes shall not result in nullification or any impairment of the concessions.

10 COM. /45 Page 3. Nontariff measures Among the abovementioned commodities, the price support measures are applied to soyabean and rapeseed, under the provisions of the Agricultural Products Price Stabilization Law of 953, in order to maintain their prices at the normal level and thereby contribute to the stabilization of agricultural production and farmers' household economy. With regard to these two products, the Government, taking into account the voluntary marketing control by grovrers' organizations, gives preferences to the purchase of products supplied by such organizations. The Government establishes its purchase prices for two products, taking into account agricultural parity indices, production costs, the demand and supply condition and other general economic situations. For the fiscal year, the purchase prices for soyabean and rapeseed were USfWO and US$39.8 per ton, respectively. The Government has not purchased domestic soyabean and domestic rapeseed, besides the exceptional purchase of 6, tons of rapeseed in, 4. Quantitative restrictions (i) No import restrictions are applied to the following items (automatic approval basis): Soyabean*, copra, cottonseed, safflower, palmkernel, kapok, sesame, linseed, castorseed, ricebran, sunflower, seed of perilla ooimoides, hempseed, palmoil, tungoil. Soyabean is freely imported from nondollar areas. (ii) Quota system is in force, as for the following: 5. Exchange practices 6. State trading Soyabean from dollar areas, rapeseed, peanuts, soyabean oil, rapeseed oil, mustard oil, coconut oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, palmkernel oil, kapok oil, sesame oil, peanut oil, linseed oil, castorseed oil, ricebran oil. 7«Subsidies on domestic production As regards production subsidies for soyabean and rapeseed^ # ^cument CM.II/2(p)/Rev.l 8. Export subsidies None,

11 COM. /45 Page 9. Level of protection Soyabean Rapeseed Government purchase pri ce of domestic products $/ton 39,35 4, o ,8 Marketing price of domestic products* $/ton C.i.f. price of imported products $ per ton , Note: (a) The above data are for each fiscal year, (b) No protection is virtually forced, as seen in this table, (c)* Prices in producing district.. Statistical information See Tables land II attached»

12 COU /45. p ag ]4 Tabla... _ Home Production, Imports, Exports, Home Consumption cf Vegetable Oils Quantity, tons Value US$, ; Home Production Imports Exports Home Consumptiin Soyabean oil Q 74.8 ti 89.7 H 93.6 H 23.5 n 23 Q V 36 ii. 6 H n 26 H 2 Q V 9.7 2,82 n 5.3,66 II 3,53 H ,84 ti 9.3 4,855 Q 842 H 8.4 II 85.5 II 97.7 n 5.4 Rapeseed Coconut oil Cottonseed oil ,28 2.9,75 2.4,37 7. «* Safflower oil ' « Palm kernel oil Kapok Sesame oil Peanut oil Linseed oil Castor oil Rice bran oil Palm oil ~.5 3, ,35 2 5,29.6 2, , Olive oil Tung oil 3,53 3.7, ,438 4, , ,7 Other G Total 23 É ,378 4., , , ,478 3, ,748 4, , , Notet Fiscal year (from April to March)

13 COM./45 Page 5 FISH Definition of products: Tariff item No, See "paragraph 2". Tariff measures Item Fish, crustaceans, molluscs and the like () Food (a) Fresh (b) (c) Those canned, bottled or potted (i) sardines in oil (ii) other Fish, salted or dried, including those steamed or boiled (d) Other (2) Live (a) Seaweeds Those for breeding purposes including fish roe (b) Other (a) Fresh (b) Other Tariff Rate of Duty Item No. General A ' Ba 32 Ba Note: The GATT rate is bound to the United States. 2 T Free 5 GATT Shrimps, prawns and lobsters, fresh, chilled or frozen: 5%

14 COM. n/45 Page 6 3. Nontariff measures Policy and objectives The Government endeavours to stabilize fishery management of smallscale fishermen and to increase their net income through promoting the production and export of fish and fish products, pursuant to the Fishery Law of 949 and the Marine Industry Cooperative Law of 948, etc. The Government is, however, taking no special measures except subsidies to some production. As regards the production subsidies for fisheries see the Report on Subsidies (document L/3). 4. Quantitative restrictions In general there are no imports of fish and fish products as a rule, since the domestic production can furnish all home requirements 5. Exchange practices 6. State trading 7. Subsidies on domestic production See the Report on Subsidies (document L/3). 8. Export subsidies 9. Level of protection. Statistical information See Table I attaohed.

15 Hone Production, Imports, Exports and Home Consumption of Fish Quantity Value, tons ussi, Quant. Value Quant. Value Quant. Value Quant. Value Quant» Value Fisheries Catches 4,234 4,572 4,445 5,4 5,65 Fresh* Import Export Prod, as 2 of home consumption Chilled or frozen Import Export Home prod, as? of home con. Canned Import Export Home prod, as? of home con. Salted, dried or smoked Import Export Home prod, as? of home con. 2,68 2,68 2, ~ , ,57,86 8,538 2,83 2,83 2, , , ,26 «2,2 2, 2, , ,397,2 ~ 6,588 Z,tt5 2,256 2, ? ,475 3, , ,229,93,93, ? «3,23 ~ 42, ,555 «,959 5,984 Note: (a) Calendar year (b) * estimated

16 COM./45 Page 8 DAIRY PRODUCTS» Definition of products: Tariff itom No. See "paragraph 2". 2, Tariff measures Item Tariff Item No, General Rate of Duty GATT $ % (l) Milk or cream, fresh (2) Evaporated or condensed (a) Whole (i) sweetened (ii) unsweetened (b) Skimmed (i) sweetened (ii) unsweetened (3) Dried provided that rate of duty for school lunch is free (a) Whole (i) sweetoned (ii) unsweetened (b) Skimmed (i) sweetened (ii) unsweetened provided that rate of duty for school lunch is free Butter and gee Cheese and curd Note: All tariff concessions were originally granted to the United States. 3. Nontariff measures Policy and ob.loctives The essential objectives of the dairy policy are to improve farm management, oupled with the increase of dairy productivity and encouragement of lo«al consumption of dairy products.

17 COM,/45 Page 9 The Government endeavours to encourage the breeding of dairy cattle and to promote steady and reasonable development of dairy farming, pursuant to the Livestockkeeping Farmers' Establishment Special Measures Law of 953, the Dairy Promoting Law of and the Dairy Promoting Fund Law of, etc. The measures taken by the Government are: (i) to secure more reasonable conditions of dairy production by encouraging the establishment of dairy farming regions, rational dairy manufactures, etc.; (ii) to encourage increased consumption of dairy products, especially group consumption for school lunch and the like; (iii) to provide milk producers and dairy manufacturers with financing facilities to a certain extent. 4. Quantitative restrictions (a) As regards natural cheese, there are no Import restrictions (automatic approval basis). (b) As regards other dairy products, a quota system is in force. 5. Exchange practices 6. State trading Nono. 7» Subsidies on domestic production With regard to production subsidies, see the Report on Subsidies (document L/3). 8. Export subsidies 9. Level of protection. Statistical information See Tables I and II attached.

18 Table Home Production of LU Ik (Unit tons) > {^ ro , , ,975,53,63,35,64,543,334 (Farm households Fresh (fluid) (Other than (farm households 8,54 45,22 9,53 45,26 2,5 483,62 6, ,45 32,95 67,933 39,5/7 739,529 Processed 35, , ,26 6,66 669,228 (Butter (including skjra mil!<) 7,69 3,962 22,783 22, ,99 354,69,Cheese 2,76 8,47 2/5 9,8 3,58 33,46 (Condensed or evaporated milk 52,964 3,46, ; ,8 53,847.Dried milk 9,56,2 86,97 8,863 59,8 47,23 Note: Calendar year

19 Table Evaporated or condensed mi Ik Imports [ Export Home prod, as I of home con. Dried milk Imports Expoit Home prod, as? of home con. Butter Imports Export Home prod, as? cf home con. Cheese lmprrts Exports Home prod, as? of home con. Imports, Home Production, Exports and Home Consumption of Other Dairy Products Quant. 9, ,44 6,645 3,499 48?,38 238,69 23,46 98? 2, , ,6 2? ? Quant. Value 59, , ,327? 8,899 4,598 33, ,43 57? 64, ,472 76,539 86,843 6,833,433,488, 8,266 2,247 8,24 83? 84 93,745 2,743 47? 826,5,93 Quant. 5, , ,344? 7,46 4,94 3, ,89 53? 7, ,824 7,824 93?,28,3 2,32 2,32 53? Value 23,23 7,5 4,367,757,593 57, ,882,22 Quant» 64, , ,629 99? 2,23 2,43 4, ,38 5? 7, ,967 7,967 97?, ,583 2,583 75? Val ue 39, 3 43,745 ~ 6,95, 68 42, 48 2, 562, Quant. 76, , ,333? 9, ,99 9,99 97? 2, ,548 3,548 82? Quantity Value Value 27,347 3,27 28,432 25,825,6,6 55, ,38 55,4 52? 263,62 573,39 tons us: Quant. Kalue 62, , ,55? 2, ,89 2,89 99? 3, ,56 5 4,5 83? 2,967 28,797 32,842 2,97 8,27,66 54, ,522 55,9 6? 42, ,42 2,6] Note: Calendar year

20 COM. n/45..page 22 ^IBATS! Pqf initio,,! of.products; Tariff item No. See "paragraph 2". 2» Tariff measures Item Meat, poultry and game Tariff Item No, General % Rate of Duty GATT [lj Fresh k2) Those canned, bottled or potted J 3) Ham, bacon and sausages [4) Salted whale meat (5) Other , Nontariff measures None, 4» " nt it atiyejrestri étions As for mutton (including lamb), poultry meat and horse meat, there are no import restrictions (automatic approval basis). Regarding other meats, quota systems are in force. None, 6 «State trading None, 7 Subsidies on domestic production None, 8 Expert subsidies 9, Level of prot çtion None,, Sj;_8^i_stJj3ajL_jnf^rm^ion See Table I attached.

21 COM. n/45 Page 23 Table I Importa, Home Production. Exports and Consumption of Meats (Quantity:, tons) (Value: IBfl, J Imports (Quantity) (Value) , Exports (Quantity)... (Value) , as percentage of home cor.3umption $ 99.5$ 99$ 94$ 99$ Notes: (a) The abovementioned figures contain those on beef, horse meat, mutton, lamb and goat meat, fresh or frozen. (b) The above data are for the calendar year.

22 COM. n/45 Page 24 EGGS. Définition of product: Tariff item No. Eggs Tariff measures (n) Import duty General rate of duty: 2 per cent. (b) There is no tariff binding. 3. Nontariff measures 4. Q.uantitatiye restrictions Imports of eggs are subject to qucyta. systems, 5. Exchange practices 6. State trading None 7 Subsidies on domestic production None, 8. Export^subsidies 9. Level of rç.jrtçïtifm. Statistical information See Table I attached.

23 Table Imports, Home Production, Exports and Consumption of Eggs Quantity, tons Value US$, Quant. Quant. Value Quant. Value Quant. Value Quant, Value Quant. Value Imports : C4 Exports Home prod, as % of home con., ).3, Note: Calendar year to CD Q