Japan attaches new tariffs to U.S. steel
Japan has fanned the flames of a long-standing feud between the worlds two largest economies.
It plans to attach 15 percent levies on U.S. steel imports starting September 1, 2005.
The tariffs, which could rise as high as $51 million, will primarily affect ballbearings, airplane parts, and other steel products.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Monday that the levies are in retaliation for American steel industry protection measures.
The World Trade Organization ruled in January 2003 that the U.S. anti-dumping law or so-called Byrd amendment unlawfully protected the American steel industry.
Japan, the European Union and six other countries won the right to impose $150 million in economic sanctions against the United States when the law was not repealed at the end of the year.
Hideji Sugiyama,
Japan's Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry said, We hope the United States will take these retaliatory measures seriously and promptly withdraw the Byrd amendment.
Neither the
US Embassy nor the American Chamber of Commerce in
Japan has yet commented on the situation.