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At the time of the last Review of Japan, the Cabinet had authorized a regulatory reform programme issued by the GRU, under which the authorities were to review and improve about 60 regulations on, inter alia, environment and energy, medical and elderly care services, and agriculture.

It is also important for the Government to promote innovation in the fields of “green ( energy & environment )”, “life (health & life sciences)” and “agriculture,forestry and fisheries ” and develop an environment devoted to cultivating new industries along with increasing competitiveness of companies operating in Japan and creating jobs in a compatible manner.

For this reason, the Government prioritizes the above three policy areas and SMEs as four policy packages for the rebirth of Japan in the “Rebirth of Japan: A Comprehensive Strategy” decided by the Cabinet on 31 July 2012. The Government will work to: (1) draw up " Green Policy Outline” by the end of 2012 as a more concrete package of regulatory and systemic reform, and budgetary reform in order to establish world-leading technology innovation in the energy field and to create new industries and jobs; 

In July 2012, the Rebirth of Japan: A Comprehensive Strategy was adopted as a cabinet decision to succeed the New Growth Strategy. Four key policy areas (energy and environment; health; agriculture, forestry and fisheries; and SMEs) are to be prioritized over three years.

Other than rebuilding the physical infrastructure, the focus of the Government's rebuilding strategy is on job creation. In this respect, the authorities have identified the creation of new innovative industries through the utilization of "reconstruction special zones" and private sector funds. Industries targeted include: environmentally friendly industries, life sciences, science and technology, and information and communications sectors. The authorities are also focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as an engine of growth and revitalization. In this regard, the Government made sure that financing lines remained open after the disaster and is also considering making start-up capital more easily available. In order to realize the above, the Government has also consented to the Program for Promoting Japan as an Asian Business Center and Direct Investment into Japan (Chapter II). In the wake of the nuclear disaster, the Government is also in the process of reviewing its energy strategy and mix. This is also seen as an avenue for reconstruction and revitalization. In September 2012, the authorities issued the Innovative Strategy for Energy and the Environment. These policies are governed by three underlying principles: realization of a society not dependent on nuclear power; realization of a green energy revolution; and stable supply of energy.

Trade-related issues are the responsibility of a number of ministries and agencies, mainly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), as specified under the various laws establishing relevant ministries and agencies. Other ministries and agencies with responsibility for sectoral issues involved in trade policy formulation and implementation are the ministries of: Agriculture, forestry and Fisheries; Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Environment

Under Article 69-11 of the Customs Law, Japan prohibits imports of certain products. For reasons of national security, safeguarding consumer health and well-being, preserving domestic plant and animal life and the environment, imports of narcotics, certain weapons, and animals or plants listed in the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered species; of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), may be prohibited or subject to import licensing. Japan's Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law governs import licensing procedures (Chart III.3). In addition, some commodities, including certain fish, are subject to import quotas

Items requiring import approval include weapons and other items from the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya as per United Nations Security Council resolution. At present, products that require import approval or are prohibited include: certain marine products, medicines and chemical products, propellant powders, nuclear goods, weapons, animals and plants, substances that deplete the ozone layer, specified hazardous wastes, waste chemical weapons goods, alcohol, rough diamonds, cultural property illegally removed from Iraq, all goods from North Korea, weapons and other items related to nuclear programmes or ballistic missile programmes from Iran, and weapons and other items from Eritrea. Licences to import are issued free of cost.

Japan continues to use quantitative restrictions on imports (import quotas); according to the authorities the quotas adhere to the WTO Agreements. Products subject to import quotas (unchanged since 2010) include: certain fish products and controlled substances listed in the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Japan has in place a system of prior confirmation to collect data on certain imports. The system is intended to ensure that these imports are for specific uses, and to verify documentation and origin requirements. Prior confirmation is required from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, or other relevant minister; some items require confirmation from Customs. The system is used, inter alia, for goods where fraudulent declarations have been found in the past or are deemed more high risk. These include: vaccine of microbial origin for experimental use; uranium catalysts; specified foreign cultural property; tuna; marlin; whales; psychotropics; poppy and hemp seeds; certain substances listed in the Montreal Protocol; radioisotopes; diamonds; and various other chemicals and pharmaceutical products.