The Finance Ministry may make it easier for Japanese companies to file for antidumping and other special tariffs next spring to ward off unfairly low-priced foreign goods, according to officials.

By easing the procedures for companies to apply for the special tariffs, the government hopes to combat unfair trade practices by foreign firms that are likely to damage a broad range of industries, including the semiconductor, iron and steel, and textile industries.

The government plans to study a report to be submitted in December by a Finance Ministry advisory panel on tariffs and foreign exchange. It will then aim to implement the new application procedures in April, the officials said.

Amid concern about slowing trade due to the global financial crisis, experts warn that countries like China and South Korea, which have previously been slapped with tariffs, will oppose the move. It also comes just after world leaders have pledged to resist a shift toward protectionism amid fears of a global recession.

Under the current application procedure, Japanese firms requesting the imposition of special tariffs need to provide evidence of damage by the actions of foreign companies.

Under the revisions, they would basically be able to file the application first and then prepare the necessary evidence before the government begins investigating whether to impose the tariffs.

The number of times Japan has imposed tariffs is low compared with other major advanced countries.

Japan imposed special tariffs, including countervailing, punitive and emergency duties, a total of seven times since it first imposed an antidumping tariff on a type of alloy from China and other nations in 1993.

Japanese companies have been slapped with antidumping tariffs in more than 100 cases since 1995, according to the WTO.