Japan Criticizes Chinese Taxes, IP Regime In Trade Report

by Mary Swire, for LawAndTax-News.com, Hong Kong

31 March 2004

In its newly released annual report on unfair trade practices, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has pointed to China as accounting for seven of the fifteen issues raised.

According to the report, China "has many areas that need to be corrected, including the slowness of revising domestic laws and inconsistency and a lack of transparency in applying these laws".

It went on to list several key areas of concern, including the higher taxes levied on the importation of foreign semiconductors, the lax anti-piracy regime, the high number of anti-dumping investigations launched by China against Japan (eleven out of the fifteen brought by the country since its accession to the WTO), and the high tariffs imposed on imported photographic film.

Although the Japanese authorities are undecided as to whether to formally raise the aforementioned points with the World Trade Organisation, the report revealed that:

"We will seek dialogue with the Chinese authorities and private sector as part of our efforts to push the country to live up to its obligations as a WTO member."

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