Japan start anti-dumping investigation to cutsheet of Indonesia origin

According to the press release of METI on June 29, 2012, METI will start investigation of anti-dumping of Indonesia origin cutsheet, which is typically used for A4 size copy paper.  This investigation will be conducted by joint task of MOF and METI based on the Customs Tariff Act.  The period is expected as within one year.  Once the report verify the anti-dumping result, Japan will impose anti-dumping import duty to Indonesia origin cutsheet.

The anti-dumping investigation is requested by Japanese paper industry consisted by eight major companies.  According to them, the cutsheet is exported to Japanese market about 15% lower price than Indonesia market price by two Indonesian companies. 

It is not so often anti-dumping investigation is done in Japan, and first time for paper industry in Japan.


Reference: http://www.meti.go.jp/press/2012/06/20120629001/20120629001-1.pdf
More details are referred in: http://www.customs.go.jp/kaisei/kokuji/H24kokuji/H24kokuji0226.pdf

WTO panel establishment for China rare metal export restriction

On  June 27, 2012, together with the United States and the European Union, Japan requests the establishment of a panel under the WTO Agreement on export restrictions by China on rare earths, tungsten and molybdenum. 

The press release by METI is in below URL.
http://www.meti.go.jp/press/2012/06/20120627005/20120627005-2.pdf

Japan have complained China impose export duty and quantity limitation in export of rare earths.

Japanese origin food import restriction in China after March 2011 disaster

While I was in Shanghai last week, my colleague kindly investigated the captioned issue quickly.
The findings are below and this is still effective as of June 2012.


Right after the earthquake disaster, China Inspection and Quarantine ("CIQ")announced that:


They will prohibit food imports from 12 Japanese regions including Fukushima, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Yamagata, Niigata, Nagano, Yamanashi, Saitama, Tokyo, and Chiba.  （福島県、群馬県、栃木県、茨城県、宮城県、山形県、新潟県、長野県、山梨県、埼玉県、東京都、千葉県）
Food imports from other regions require radiation test certificates.

On June 23, 2011, there was a loosing of the policy. It is stipulated that:
"Food imports from Yamagata （山形県） and Yamanashi （山梨県） are no longer prohibited."

Food imports (not inclusive of the HS codes listed in the annex of the policy update which still need radiation test certificates ) from other regions no longer require radiation test certificates but would need country of origin certificates.


********************************************

The above mentioned HS code is as follows:



一、蔬菜及制品

HS编码07章的0701100000至0714909099；

HS编码20章的2001100000至2005999990、2006009010、2006009090。

二、水产品及水生动物

HS编码02章的0210930000、0208400000、0208500000、0210920000；

HS编码03章的0301100010至0307999090；

HS编码05章的0511919010、0511919090；

HS编码12章的1212201010至1212209090；

HS编码15章的1504100000、1504200000、1504300090、1506000010；

HS编码16章的1603000010至1605909090；

HS编码20章的2008993100至2008993900；

HS编码21章的2103909000。

三、茶叶及制品

HS编码09章的0902101000至0903000000；

HS编码21章的2101200000。

四、乳及乳制品

HS编码04章的0401100000至0406900000；

HS编码19章的1901100010至1901900000。

五、水果及制品

HS编码08章的0801110000、0802110000、0802120000、0802901090、0802902000、0803000000、0804100000、0804200000、0804300090、0804400000、0804501090、0804502090、0804503000、0805100000、0805201000、0805202000、0805209000、0805400090、0805500000、0805900000、0808100000、0808201200、0808201300、0808201900、0813100000、0813200000、0813300000、0813401000、0813402000、0813403000、0813404000；

HS编码20章的2006001000、2006002000、2006009090、2007100000、2007910000、2007991000、2007999000、2008192000、2008201000、2008209000、2008301000、2008309000、2008401000、2008409000、2008500000、2008601000、2008609000、2008701000、2008709000、2008800000、2008910000、2008920000、2008991000、2008992000、2008993900、2008999000。

六、药用植物产品

HS编码12章的1211201000至1211209900、1211901100至1211903600、1211903930至1211903999。

Japan Export Trade Control Order amendment proposed rule

On June 9, 2012, the amendment proposed rule of Export Trade Control Order in Japan was put on e-government web site for public comment.  The comment due date is by July 8, 2012.

I don't review the proposed rule closely yet, but quickly find below is the main points.

1. Make it encryption item to non-controlled item
   This is not significant change for non-Japanese importer overseas, but for Japanese exporter who handles encryption item, long awaited and appreciated welcome change.  This part is so-called "Mass market exemption which is noted in Note 3 of Category 5 part 2.  In Japan, off course this exemption has been adopted and implemented, but the legal structure was a bit strange.  The mass market exemption has been not Incorporated into the controlled items list, but set aside in Order and Notification.  So what happens here is that, the item itself is "controlled" e.g. wit the reason of a "symmetric algorithm" employing a key length in excess of 56 bits, but as long as the item meets mass market requirement, it is no license required.  In export customs declaration, such encryption items are regarded as "controlled" dual-use items, but eventually no license required based on the exemption provision on Export Trade Control Order Article 4 and related notification.  This practice actually only increase the documentation work such as parameter sheet preparation.  So, this change just gives comfortable impact to Japanese exporter by reducing paper work, but would be no significant impact to overseas traders.  The judgment of mass market encryption items as "no license requirement" is essentially no change.
   
2. Japanese dual-use list reflect update of Wassenaar Arrangement ("WA") December 2011
   Adopt and reflect WA's latest change, December 2011 list, will be reflected into Japanese controlled items list.  For example, in Category 4, 4A003, "Digital computers" having an 'Adjusted Peak Performance' ('APP') exceeding 3.0 Weighted TeraFLOPS (WT).  Currently it is 1.5 WT.
   
3. Bulgaria is added into White Countries
   Bulgaria will be one of White Countries.  The impact is, WMD catch-all screening is only for non-White Countries, so an exporter in Japan don't have to screen end-use & end-user for WMD catch-all control.

I estimate the change will be implemented sometime a few months after public comment due date.

(Reference:  http://search.e-gov.go.jp/servlet/Public?CLASSNAME=PCMMSTDETAIL&id=595112031 )

Japan - Australia EPA 16th round of negotiation take place

According to the joint announcement of METI and MOFA on June 8, 2012, the 16th round of negotiation of Japan-Australia bilateral EPA will take place on June 13 through 15 in Tokyo.

During the 3 days talks, the two countries will discuss issued relating to trade in goods and services, energy & natural resources, food & agriculture, and investment.  Since April 2007, Japan and Australia have had 15 rounds of negotiations, but still the goal of the talk is unclear.  The main reason is Japan's concern in agricultural area, less competitive than Australia.

(Reference: http://www.meti.go.jp/press/2012/06/20120608003/20120608003.pdf )

Japan Mongolia EPA first round of negotiation

According to METI and MOFA press release on June 1, 2012, the first round of EPA negotiation with Mogolia takes place fron June 4 through June 7 in Ulan Bator.

The discussion there will be how to proceed the entire negotiation and Terms of Reference.  Also, the specific discussion in area of trade in goods, service trade and investment will take place.

(Reference: http://www.meti.go.jp/press/2012/06/20120601001/20120601001.pdf )

(Result report: http://www.meti.go.jp/press/2012/06/20120607007/20120607007.pdf )