Products imported into Japan are subject to customs duty in principle, and the tariff and duty rates are roughly classified as follows:
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Tariff (Duty Rates) Enacted by Laws (Statutory Tariff) |
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- General Rate: General rates are basic rates and remain unchanged unless the situation substantially changes.
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- Temporary Rate: Temporary rates are applicable for a certain period of time, in the case where general rates can not be applied temporarily. They are always applied in preference to general rates.
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- Preferential Rate: Preferential rates are applicable to
products originating from designated developing countries or
territories which satisfy certain conditions, such as the country of origin status, etc. They are set lower than the MFN (Most-Favored-Nations) applied tariff (either statutory tariff (excluding preferential tariff and simplified tariff) or
WTO bound tariff (whichever lower)) as an exception
of the MFN principle.
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- Simplified Rate Applicable to Imported Personal Effects: Simplified rates are applicable to the accompanied and unaccompanied goods of an entrant
into Japan. Customs duty, consumption tax and other internal taxes are laid down on a combined form.
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- Simplified Rate on Small Packages: When the total value of imported goods does not exceed 100,000 yen per importation, simplified rates on the small packages are applicable,
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| (2) |
Duty Rates Enacted by Treaties |
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WTO Bound Rate:
Any customs duty rate in excess of WTO bound
one set forth in the schedule of concessions
under the WTO Agreement is not applicable to
products from all the WTO member countries
and regions. Hence, MFN applied rate,
whichever of WTO bound rate and statutory
rate is lower, is applicable to products
from all the WTO member countries or regions
as well as non-WTO member countries with the
MFN status provided under the bilateral
trade agreements with Japan (excluding Economic
Partnership Agreements). (Note)The WTO bound rates may be applicable to certain non-member countries or regions of the WTO with which Japan has not concluded bilateral agreements (excluding Economic Partnership Agreements), if those countries give Japan effective MFN status based on the reciprocity principle. This treatment may be made through due consideration to diplomatic relations with the countries and regions. (Beneficial Tariff System)
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- Rates Based on Economic Partnership
Agreements (EPA Rates): EPA rates are
applied to goods imported from a Party of
EPA if the goods satisfy the conditions
provided in each EPA such as Rules of
Origin. By April 1, 2009, EPAs with
Singapore, Mexico, Malaysia, Chile,
Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, ASEAN and
Philippines have entered into force.
(Note)As of April 1, 2009, EPA with ASEAN is in force among Japan, Singapore, Laos, Viet Nam, Myanmar, Brunei, and Malaysia.
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| (Reference) |
Priority Order of Tariff Application
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In principle, customs duties are applied to the Preferential Rate, WTO Bound Rate, Temporary Rate, and General Rate, in that order of priority. Notice that preferential rates are only applicable to products originating from designated beneficiaries, and that WTO bound rates are applicable when they are lower than temporary rates or general rates.
For example, applicable rates on coffee, roasted and non-decaffeinated, coded as 0901.21 are as follows; Applicable rates are 20% (general rate), 12% (WTO bound rate) and 10% (preferential rate) (also the preferential duty-free treatment is granted to Least Developed Countries (LDCs)). When the product originates from a developing country designated as beneficiaries, the preferential rate of 10% is applied (the preferential duty-free treatment is granted to LDCs). When the preferential rate is not applicable, the WTO bound rate of 12% is applied to product originating from the countries and regions with MFN status, and the general rate of 20% is applied to the products originating from other countries.
| (Note) |
The above rates are as of April 1, 2009. |
(Article 3 of the Customs Law, Article 3, 3-2, 3-3, 5 and Annex of the Customs Tariff Law, Article
2, Article 8-2, Annexes 1, 1-3, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Temporary Tariff Measure Law)