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In addition, a tax exemption for fossil fuels is provided for some sectors, including agriculture and fishing, and the special-purpose tax on light oil (which is used for construction and maintenance of public roads) does not apply to non-road uses of light oils which includes fishing vessels. The authorities stated that other industrial activities, such as aquaculture, forestry, ceramics, and other railways are subject to the same treatment.

The Fisheries Modernization Fund Interest Subsidy and the Fund for the Measure to Recovery Fishery Resources were notified to the WTO Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. According to the notification, the Fisheries Modernization Fund provides an interest subsidy to financial organizations, including fisheries' cooperatives, "to advance equipments and modernize management of fisheries and related sectors." The total amount provided was ¥3.9 million in FY2013 and ¥4.6 million in FY2012. (...)

(...) Under the Fund for the Measure to Recovery Fishery Resources, the Government provides grants for comprehensive programmes implemented by non-governmental organizations. The subsidies are provided for sustainable management of fishery resources, promotion of stock enhancement and aquaculture, and conservation of the coastal environment. The total amount provided was ¥2,706 million in FY2013 and ¥3,071 million in FY2012.

In March 2012, MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) established the Ocean Policy Panel to implement the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy of 2008. The Plan and Panel address many aspects of marine policy including exploration and exploitation of minerals, fisheries, and the environment, as well as maritime transport. On maritime transport, the Policy recognises the challenges facing maritime transport in Japan, particularly the decline in the number of Japanese-flagged vessels, the aging of the maritime workforce, and the increasing competition in the region.

Table A3. 2 Incorporated administrative agencies by government office

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (23)
- Japan Atomic Energy Agency

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (13)
- National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences
- National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (19)
- National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory
- Organization for Environment Improvement around International Airport

Ministry of the Environment (2)
- National Institute for Environmental Studies
- Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency

Table A2. 1 WTO dispute settlement cases active 1 January 2011–31 December 2014
(reverse chronological order)
- Subject: Recycling Fee on Motor Vehicles
- Respondent/complainant/appellant: Russian Federation
- Request received for consultation: 24/07/2013
- Status (as at 31 Dec. 2014): Consultations
- WTO document series: DS463

- Subject: Certain Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector
- Respondent/complainant/appellant: Canada
- Request received for consultation: 13/05/2010
- Status (as at 31 Dec. 2014): Implementation notified 05/06/2014
- WTO document series: DS412

- Subject: Recycling Fee on Motor Vehicles
- Respondent/complainant/appellant: Russian Federation/European Union
- Request received for consultation: 09/07/2013
- Status (as at 31 Dec. 2014): Panel established 25/12/2013
- WTO document series: DS462

- Subject: Certain Measures Relating to Solar Cells and Solar Modules
- Respondent/complainant/appellant: India/United States
- Request received for consultation: 06/02/2013
- Status (as at 31 Dec. 2014): Panel established 23/05/2014
- WTO document series: DS456

In addition, Japan has been committed to advancing APEC green growth objectives. In 2012, following the Honolulu Declaration, APEC Leaders reached a groundbreaking agreement on the APEC List of Environmental Goods (54 items) that directly and positively contributes to APEC green growth and sustainable development objectives, on which we will reduce applied tariff rates to 5% or less by the end of 2015, taking into account each economy’s economic circumstances, without prejudice to APEC economies’ positions in the WTO.

Since the Eighteenth APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, held in Yokohama, Japan, in November 2010, Japan has contributed actively to the process of raising consensus among the APEC Leaders on: promoting effective, non-discriminatory, and market-driven innovation policy; increased participation in global production chains by small and medium-sized enterprises; promoting trade and investment in environmental goods and services ; reinforcing the implementation of good regulatory practices; enhancing supply-chain connectivity by establishing a baseline de minimis value of US$100 on exports by the end of 2012; address barriers to trade faced by SMEs in the region; and facilitate trade in remanufactured goods. In the 2012 Ministerial Meeting in Vladivostok, Japan reiterated its commitment towards, inter alia: strengthening the multilateral trading system; advancing trade and investment liberalization; addressing next-generation trade and investment issues; liberalizing and facilitating trade in services; facilitating investment; promoting trade in environmental goods; ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture; and establishing reliable supply chains. Furthermore, Japan contributed actively to the development of the APEC List of Environmental Goods (54 items), which was endorsed in Vladivostok in 2012.

Japan-China: In December 2011, Prime Minister Noda expressed “Six Initiatives to further deepen a ‘Mutually Beneficial Relationship based on Common Strategic Interests’ on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China” during his visit to China. In line with the initiatives above, in May 2012, both leaders shared the view to further develop mutually beneficial economic relations in the fields of Finance, Energy - Saving and Environment , Tourism, Intellectual Property Rights, Agriculture and air transportation, etc. 

Japan-South Korea - In order to strengthen the economic relationship between Japan and Korea, the 10thJapan-Korea High-Level Economic Consultation was held on 24 November 2011. Both sides exchanged views to promote bilateral trade and investment and reaffirmed the importance of cooperation on global issues such as energy security and the environment.