WTO gives Japan until September to change chip import rules

(AP) -- The World Trade Organization is giving Japan until Sept. 1 to change its punitive charges on imports of South Korean computer memory chips.

A WTO arbitrator said this gives Japan a reasonable period of time to reshape its tariffs to conform with global trade rules.

Seoul complained to the WTO about a 27.2 percent charge Tokyo levies on imports of dynamic random access memory made by South Korea's Hynix Semiconductor Inc. DRAM chips are used in computers and other high-tech products.

The WTO arbitrator's decision, published Monday, follows a panel ruling in November from a WTO panel that Japan incorrectly calculated the tariff. The panel stopped short of ordering Tokyo to scrap the fees outright.

Š2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Posted by Glis 05/05/08 18:23

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Shame on you Japan for taxing imports on items that you developed and could produce more of in your own country, if it wasn't for your 'slave labor' laws that allow your neighbors to make them cheaper, for shame!!!