Japan
Principal exports
Motor vehicles, semiconductors, iron and steel
products, auto parts, plastic materials, power
generating machinery.
Documentation
Imports
Bill of lading, cargo dispatch document,
commercial invoice, customs import
declaration and a packing list.
Exports
Bill of lading, commercial invoice and a
customs export declaration.
Licences
Imports
Some goods that may impact Japanese
industry and the wider economy. (An import
quota certificate is needed from the Ministry
of Economy, Trade and Industry.)
Exports
Some raw materials for foreign processing
and re-importation.
Tariffs/Taxes
Imports
Five tariff rates are applied to all imports
(general, WTO, preferential, least developed
country and temporary) depending on the
type of item and its country of origin.
Generally, imports are subject to duties,
ranging from 3 to 15 percent, and
consumption tax.
Duties rates can be up to 60 percent, and
additional excise duty is often applied to
alcohol, petrol and tobacco.
Exports
None.Financing requirements for imports/
exports
None.Prohibited items
Imports
Items prohibited for national security, or for
moral reasons, to protect and intellectual
property rights in accordance with UN
Security Council resolutions.
Additional prohibited imports: commodities
such as firearms, opium and other narcotics.
Exports
Items that are prohibited in accordance with
UN Security Council resolutions.Japan imports exports
Trade information
Key trading partners
Imports by origin
China 21.5%
EU 9.4%
USA 8.9%
Australia 6.6%
Saudi Arabia 5.9%
Other 47.7%Source: WTO, September 2012
Exports by destinationChina 19.7%
USA 15.5%
EU 11.7%
South Korea 8.0%
Taiwan 6.2%
Other 38.9%