On July 22, President Trump announced that the U.S. had struck a trade agreement with Japan. The announcement calls for a 15% tariff on Japanese goods imported into the U.S. In return, Japan will âopen their Country to Trade including Cars and Trucks, Rice and certain other Agricultural Products, and other things.â Under President Trumpâs reciprocal tariff package announced in April, Japanese goods would be subject to a 24% duty. The imposition of this tariff…
On July 7, President Trump announced revised tariffs rates for certain trading partners that will take effect on August 1 and extended the postponement of his âLiberation Dayâ tariffs. The revised tariffs were announced via letters to 14 countries and range from 25% to 40%. These actions come mere days before President Trumpâs reciprocal tariffs, which were paused to allow for the negotiation of bilateral trade agreements, were due to resume on July 9 for…
Since April 24, 2024, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) had been conducting an anti-dumping investigation into graphite electrodes imported from China. As a result of the investigation, on 28 February 2025, METI and MOF issued a provisional determination that presumes the fact of dumping and the substantial damage that such dumping caused to Japanese industries.After the interested parties submitted evidence for provisional determination and were granted…
The number of import permits has been increasing significantly over the past few years due to the expansion of cross-border electronic commerce. In the midst of this trend, many cases of smuggling of illicit drugs and intellectual property infringing goods have been detected, and cases of inappropriate importation of FS-used cargo (*) by impersonation and tax evasion by low value declarations have become apparent. In light of this background, the Customs and Excise Department will…
The Japanese government launched the webpage named âBonded Portalâ on the Customs website, dedicated to providing information on the bonded system. This portal includes procedural guidance for businesses seeking approval for bonded areas, as well as various information and materials, including the guidelines for the bonded warehouse permit applications. Additionally, this portal has the subpage for soliciting opinions from the public to understand the issues and needs related to the bonded system and its operation.…
In the realm of international trade, the anti-dumping instrument plays a crucial role in safeguarding domestic industries against unfair trading practices. The high number of anti-dumping investigations initiated around the world, as well as an increasingly broad product scope (such as touted cases on hydrogen or electric vehicles), mean that many internationally active companies will need to be aware of anti-dumping. While World Trade Organization law sets out the general framework for municipal anti-dumping rules,…
On 30 March 2023, the Japanese Diet passed the Amendment Act of the Customs Tariff Act, etc. (“Amendment Act”). Most of the provisions of the Amendment Act came into force on 1 April 2023. The overview is as follows: 1. An extended period of application of the provisional tax rate, etc. The period of the provisional tax rate (412 items) and the special safeguard system for rice, wheat and dairy products, etc. were extended until…
Baker McKenzie’s Global Compliance News Blog published “Japan: First antitrust parallel imports case resolved under commitment procedures,” which can be viewed here.
On 2 June 2021, the UK government announced that the CPTPP nations had agreed to the UKâs bid to begin the accession process to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The CPTPP is a trade agreement between 11 countries (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam), covering 500 million people. The announcement said the UK will continue to work closely with Japan, as this yearâs…
Singaporeâs Ministry of Trade and Industry announced that on 9 April 2021, Singapore deposited its instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General of ASEAN and became the first country to complete the official process for ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. It is understood that China, Japan and Thailand completed their domestic procedures to approve RCEP, but apparently have not deposited their instruments of ratification with ASEAN. RCEP is the world’s largest free trade agreement and…