Japan has informed the United States, China and the World Trade Organization of its intention to sit in on China-U.S. talks on a trade dispute over semiconductor products, government officials said Thursday.
Washington took its case to the WTO last month over China's tax breaks for domestic semiconductor manufacturers.
China agreed last Friday to open talks with the U.S. over the issue at the WTO. If approved by China, Japan could join the talks as a third party.
The U.S. takes issue with a 17 percent value-added tax China places on semiconductor products and rebates of between 11 percent and 14 percent on domestically produced semiconductors, saying these practices give Chinese producers an unfair advantage.
Under WTO rules, a third country or group of countries can declare that they have an interest in a dispute and present their opinions.