Japanese government announced today on Sept 29 that EPA negotiation was agreed with Vietnam and Switzerland. So far, Japan have implemented EPA with total 9 countries, so this agreement will make EPA with 11 countries.
As for Vietnam EPA, it is expected to exempt the customs duty (from Japan to Vietnam) for automobile parts and steel products. Japanese manufacture will enjoy much more export to Vietnam. On the other hand the goods from Vietnam to Japan, it is expected to have zero duty in fish and textiles.
As for EPA with Switzerland, it is first EPA for Japan with European country. For export from Japan, the customs duty for automobile and steel products are expected to lower level. The import from Switzerland to Japan, the customs duty for wine will be zero duty. Approx. 80% of products from Switzerland have already been zero or lower duty.
As WTO negotiation is struggled to reach agreement, this is good news for Japan.
After these EPA, next target EPA for Japan is to reach agreement with Australia and Korea.
(Source: Japan - Swiss EPA: http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/fta/j_swit/goui.html)
(Source: Japan - Vietnam EPA: http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/fta/j_asean/vietnam/goui.html )
2008年9月29日月曜日
2008年9月22日月曜日
Japan Post changes customs clearance procedure for international postal item
Announced on Japanese customs web site in this month, Japanese postal service changes international post service customs clearance procedure for the goods exceeding JPY200,000 (approx. US$1,850) . This revised rule will be effective on Feb. 16, 2009.
The main point of procedure change is to need customs clearance like normal freight cargo for the goods exceeding JPY200,000. This is applicable both for sending (export) and receiving (import). The persons who send or receive such goods should declare customs clearance either through customs broker or by themselves. (It is planned Japan Post will get customs broker license by Feb 2009.)
The letter document or correspondence is out of focus in rule change of this time.
(Source: Japanese customs web site http://www.customs.go.jp/tsukan/yubin/yubin210216.htm)
(Current procedure: http://www.customs.go.jp/english/c-answer_e/customsanswer_e.htm#yubin)
The main point of procedure change is to need customs clearance like normal freight cargo for the goods exceeding JPY200,000. This is applicable both for sending (export) and receiving (import). The persons who send or receive such goods should declare customs clearance either through customs broker or by themselves. (It is planned Japan Post will get customs broker license by Feb 2009.)
The letter document or correspondence is out of focus in rule change of this time.
(Source: Japanese customs web site http://www.customs.go.jp/tsukan/yubin/yubin210216.htm)
(Current procedure: http://www.customs.go.jp/english/c-answer_e/customsanswer_e.htm#yubin)
2008年9月18日木曜日
EU to Drop Tariffs on High-Tech Products
As reported on this Blog in June, EU have been imposed high duty to foreign IT products which is considered to be zero duty based on WTO・ITA (Information Technology Agreement).
http://japantradecompliance.blogspot.com/2008/06/eu-ita-duty-classification-issue-bring.html
Here's good news for Japanese, US and other countries' manufacturers.
Bowing to pressure from several of its major trading partners, the European Union this week announced it would eliminate steep tariffs on certain high-tech products.
Earlier this year, the U.S., Japan, and Taiwan sued the EU because of high European tariffs on flat-panel monitors, cable and satellite boxes that access the Internet, and printers that can also scan, fax, and copy.
The move will also help the EU avoid a lengthy and costly investigation into the matter by the World Trade Organization.
(Source: UPS Trade News, Trade_News@ups-scs.service.com. Sept. 16, 2008)
http://japantradecompliance.blogspot.com/2008/06/eu-ita-duty-classification-issue-bring.html
Here's good news for Japanese, US and other countries' manufacturers.
Bowing to pressure from several of its major trading partners, the European Union this week announced it would eliminate steep tariffs on certain high-tech products.
Earlier this year, the U.S., Japan, and Taiwan sued the EU because of high European tariffs on flat-panel monitors, cable and satellite boxes that access the Internet, and printers that can also scan, fax, and copy.
The move will also help the EU avoid a lengthy and costly investigation into the matter by the World Trade Organization.
(Source: UPS Trade News, Trade_News@ups-scs.service.com. Sept. 16, 2008)
2008年9月11日木曜日
OFAC issued Economic sanctions guidlines
The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") issued guideline for violation penalty. The public comment is due no later than 60 days from issuance.
It basically state, if the violation is self-disclosed, the penalty will be one-half of not being voluntarily disclosed. The statutory maximum will be imposed in case of no self-disclosing. It is, therefore, motivating and urging companies to voluntary disclosure.
In Japan, METI don't issue any guideline of minimizing penalty in case of voluntary disclosure.
However, it is said the willingness of cooperation of disclosure or good attitude will lead to favorable result. (There is no guarantee, though....)
(Source: IRB NO 403: OFAC Issues Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines http://www.bryancave.com/bulletins/ )
It basically state, if the violation is self-disclosed, the penalty will be one-half of not being voluntarily disclosed. The statutory maximum will be imposed in case of no self-disclosing. It is, therefore, motivating and urging companies to voluntary disclosure.
In Japan, METI don't issue any guideline of minimizing penalty in case of voluntary disclosure.
However, it is said the willingness of cooperation of disclosure or good attitude will lead to favorable result. (There is no guarantee, though....)
(Source: IRB NO 403: OFAC Issues Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines http://www.bryancave.com/bulletins/ )
2008年9月10日水曜日
NPA in Japan tackle illegal export
Japanese National Police Agency ("NPA") recently published interesting web article regarding their activity to prevent illegal export in English.
http://www.npa.go.jp/english/biki1/index.html
Among them, the most interesting article is "Measures to prevent illegal export for WMD-related materials". It is concise 4 pages of material including background of world wide regime, recent export violation case reports, and their measures to tackle illegal export at Customs.
http://www.npa.go.jp/english/biki1/pdf/P05.pdf
For those who in trade compliance people, this is useful information to know Japanese export control activity.
http://www.npa.go.jp/english/biki1/index.html
Among them, the most interesting article is "Measures to prevent illegal export for WMD-related materials". It is concise 4 pages of material including background of world wide regime, recent export violation case reports, and their measures to tackle illegal export at Customs.
http://www.npa.go.jp/english/biki1/pdf/P05.pdf
For those who in trade compliance people, this is useful information to know Japanese export control activity.
2008年9月2日火曜日
JPN export control law update published
As reported on Aug 06 in this blog, Japanese export control regulation will be updated in order to reflect catch-all control for conventional weapon. The regulaiton rule was officially published on Aug 27 and will be implemented on Nov. 01, 2008, as originally scheduled.
My report last time was just in draft level, and METI have accepted public comment on this regulation change. After receiving public comments from Japanse industries, METI slightly chaged the category number of the new list of conventional weapons.
* Category# 15-2 for 32 items of sensitive dual-use items ---> Category# 16-(1)
Category# 16 have been the list of Catch-all controlled products which shows HS numbers of industries items excluding wooden and food items. Now, this category move to #16-(2) and the items list is no change. This list update is to reflect industry's opinion for avoiding any confusion of mixing up "list control" items and "catch-all control" items.
One good thing for industry is, METI stated in FAQ, new 32 items added in Category#16-(1) are not required to determine license required or not, except the export to United Nations arms embargo countries. The license determination procedure (e.g. using parameter sheet) is heavy administration burdens for business society, METI paid reasonable attention not to impose additional burdens to Japanese industry.
My report last time was just in draft level, and METI have accepted public comment on this regulation change. After receiving public comments from Japanse industries, METI slightly chaged the category number of the new list of conventional weapons.
* Category# 15-2 for 32 items of sensitive dual-use items ---> Category# 16-(1)
Category# 16 have been the list of Catch-all controlled products which shows HS numbers of industries items excluding wooden and food items. Now, this category move to #16-(2) and the items list is no change. This list update is to reflect industry's opinion for avoiding any confusion of mixing up "list control" items and "catch-all control" items.
One good thing for industry is, METI stated in FAQ, new 32 items added in Category#16-(1) are not required to determine license required or not, except the export to United Nations arms embargo countries. The license determination procedure (e.g. using parameter sheet) is heavy administration burdens for business society, METI paid reasonable attention not to impose additional burdens to Japanese industry.
登録:
投稿 (Atom)
