4029 Elimination of Tariffs on Imported Goods under Japan Switzerland Economic Partnership Agreement (FAQ)
Japan is to either eliminate or reduce tariffs (concessions) in line with the schedule described in Annex 1 of the EPA. Categories of concession such as tariff elimination, tariff reduction and tariff rate quota, etc. are prescribed in the "Notes for the Schedule of Japan" of Section 1 of Appendix 1 of Annex I (Reference 1). Also, the content of the commitment on tariff rate quota is prescribed in "Notes for Schedule of Japan" (Reference 2).
(Reference 1:Categories of Concession)
Categories | Description | Examples of products |
---|---|---|
A | Tariff elimination as from the date of entry into force of EPA | instant coffee, aromatic oil, pectic substances, pectinates and pectates |
Bx | Tariff elimination by gradual and uniform tariff reduction on a yearly basis in “x+1” phases from the base rate x = 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 15 (First reduction:date of entry into force Subsequent reduction:April 1 of each year) | roasted coffee, fruits (dried), bottle wine, plastics, petroleum product |
Pa-Pm | Application of committed rate as from the date of entry into force of EPA (Immediate Tariff Reduction) | waffle, wafer, fruits puree |
Pn | Gradual tariff elimination or reduction on a yearly basis in 11 phases from the base rate to 5% | leather and shoes |
Q | Tariff rate quota | specific natural cheese, chocolate confectionary, cocoa preparations |
X | Excluded from any commitments | rice, wheat, processed products of rice or wheat, beef, pork, marine products (IQ) |
(Reference 2: Content of the commitment on tariff rate quota)
Mark | Product | Content of the commitment |
---|---|---|
(Qa) | Dried beef | Allocated quota: First year 2t → Sixth year and subsequent year 10t |
(Qb) | Specific natural cheese | Allocated quota: First year 600t → Eleventh year and subsequent year 1000t In-quota rate: First year 29.8% → Sixth year 14.9% |
(Qc) | Sugar Confectionary | Allocated quota: 100t/year, In-quota rate: 20% |
(Qd) | Cocoa preparation (not containing added sugar) | Allocated quota: 5t/year, In-quota rate: Free |
(Qe) | Chocolate confectionary | Allocated quota: 1500t/year, In-quota rate: 8% |
(Qf) | Cheese Preparation | Allocated quota: 23t/year, In-quota rate: 21% |
*Made from cheese, wine and other ingredients such as spirits, salt, starch (maximum 3% by weight), spices, not less than 50% of which is cheese by weight, not less than 20% of which is alcoholic beverages by weight and put up in containers for retail sale by weight of 0.9kg or less each including container for retail sale |
・ Schedule of Japan (Annex 1) (Japanese)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/fta/j_swit/pdfs/fuzoku01.pdf
・ Schedule of Japan and Switzerland(Annex 1)(English)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/europe/switzerland/epa0902/annex1.pdf
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