Japan presented a detailed explanation Tuesday to the World Trade Organization on its proposal to introduce new safeguard restrictions against sudden surges in a new category of agricultural imports.
In a paper presented to the WTO Committee on Agriculture, the Japanese government urged that safeguards be applied "in a timely and effective manner" when a WTO member country faces a sudden surge of imports of seasonable and perishable produce.
The Japanese proposal is likely to face strong opposition from Australia and other members of the Cairns group of produce-exporting countries, which have argued that the WTO should abolish agricultural import safeguards, including the special safeguards provision already in place.
Apple rules to be eased
GENEVA (Kyodo) Japan told a Tuesday dispute-settlement meeting at the World Trade Organization that it reached a final agreement with the United States over changes to its quarantine system for apples and some other agricultural imports, trade sources said.
Following the agreement, Japan will change its regulations to introduce a new quarantine system, putting an end to all WTO disputes between Tokyo and Washington over Japanese quarantine practices, they said.
The U.S. filed a complaint with the world trade watchdog in April 1997, claiming Japan's quarantine system constituted a trade barrier. The system requires exporters to submit scientific data for each variety of apple, cherry and other farm product.
In March 1999, the WTO sided with the U.S. and demanded that Tokyo simplify its quarantine system.
Japan plans to introduce a system in which exporters will be allowed to apply the data approved for one variety to other varieties as well.