. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/COMTD/W/150 
12 June 2006 
 
 (06-2841) 
Committee on Trade and Development Original:   English 
  
 
DUTY-FREE, QUOTA-FREE MARKET ACCESS  
FOR THE LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
 
Communication from Japan
  
 
 
 The following communication, dated 8 June 2006, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Japan.  
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I. INTRODUCTION 
1. This paper provides an overview of the proce dural steps the Japanese government will need to 
take in order to expa nd duty-free and quota-free market access (DFQF) to the Least-Developed 
Countries (LDCs).  
2. Prior to the 6
th WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong, the Japanese Prime Minister 
Jun-ichiro Koizumi launched a co mprehensive "Development Initiative for Trade" with a view to 
promoting the empowerment of de veloping countries through the Doha  Round and helping them reap 
the benefits of the multilateral trading system.  In  this initiative, we expressed our commitment to 
provide DFQF market access for essentially all pr oducts originating from all LDCs along with a 
package of extensive development assistance.  This year, Japan amended the relevant regulations in 
order to expand DFQF treatment to include the few re maining LDCs that had yet to be covered by it.  
Thus, all LDCs can currently enjoy DF QF benefits under our legislations.  
3. Japan is fully committed to implementing this initiative, regardless of the progress of this 
Round of negotiations, and to complying with the decision adopted in the Hong Kong Ministerial 
Declaration (WT/MIN(05)/DEC) on expanding DFQF tr eatment to the LDCs in order to achieve a 
real improvement in market access and to support efforts of the developing countries to expand their 
trade. 
4. This paper intends to provide transparency  to WTO Members about the Japanese domestic 
procedures necessary to expand DFQF treatment, in cluding the legal amendment on the Generalized 
System of Preferences for LDCs.  While these procedures are subject to approval of the Diet (the 
Japanese Parliament) and other consultative bodies,  the Japanese government has already begun the 
preparations necessary for domestic procedures to start the improved DFQF treatment as early as the 
Japanese Fiscal Year 20071. 
                                                      
1 The Japanese Fiscal Year starts on 1 April and ends on 31 March the next year. WT/COMTD/W/150 
Page 2  
 
  II. OVERVIEW OF IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS UNDER JAPANESE LAW 
5. The Japanese Government revises the laws and re gulations related to customs and tariff duties 
every year.  The process described below is based on the typical st eps that the Japanese Government 
customarily takes to amend the relevant laws.  Th e expansion of DFQF treatment to the LDCs would 
be an important element of such annual amendments .  Please note that the schedule of each step in the 
legislative process may be subject to change. 
6. The process begins by careful evaluation of the potential impact of a new legislative act, such 
as the prospective impact on development of the LDCs, the possible effect on trade flows, including those of neighbouring developing countries, and the impact on domestic industries.  Internal 
consultations are underway to analyze these aspects.  In the process, input from interested parties is 
welcome and hearings will be held on various occasion s.  In particular, the governments of LDCs will 
have opportunities to express their interests a nd needs through diplomatic channels.   
7. In accordance with a statutory mandate, the results  of the internal consultations, as well as of 
the hearings, will be compiled and further reviewed through to the end of the year by the Council on 
Customs, Tariff, Foreign Exchange and other Transactions, which will make a recommendation. 
8. Following this process, the Cabinet will prepare a draft proposal to amend the Customs Tariff 
Law and other relevant legislation. 
9. The Cabinet will submit the draft to the Diet  around February.  The relevant Committees of 
the Diet will thoroughly examine the draft legislation.  If passed by the Diet, the draft legislation will 
enter into force, as appropriate. 
10. Throughout the process, input delivered by interested parties, including the LDCs during the 
hearings, will be duly taken into  consideration to achieve th e most appropriate results.  
III. CONCLUSION 
11. This is the outline of the typical domestic procedures, which are necessary for expanding 
DFQF treatment, which Japan will take in order to  implement "the Development Initiative for Trade" 
and to comply with the Hong Kong Ministerial Decl aration.  We will provide  appropriate details of 
the enhanced DFQF treatment to the Comm ittee on Trade and Development as our domestic 
procedures progress.  We are also fully committed to implementing other assistance under "the Development Initiative for Trade" to make progress in the development dimension of the DDA for the 
successful conclusion of the negotiations.  
 
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