Do harm to others but not to yourself -- Comment on Japan's unilateral restrictions on the import of Chinese agricultural products

Introduction: [do harm to others but not to yourself -- Comment on Japan's unilateral restrictions on the import of Chinese agricultural products] After the Japanese government unilaterally decided to take temporary safeguard measures to restrict the import of three kinds of agricultural products, i.e green onion, fresh mushroom and rush mat, the Japanese public opinion generally believed that this was a trade protectionism act to curb fair competition, which would not only damage the interests of Chinese export enterprises and farmers, but also make the agricultural investors, dealers and ordinary consumers in China When interests are damaged, the final result is to harm others but not to benefit oneself The Japanese government has decided that within 200 days from April 23, 2001 to November 8, 2001, if the export of the three agricultural products of China to Japan does not exceed the 200 day share of the average import volume from China in the past, that is, 5383 tons of green onion, 8003 tons of fresh mushrooms and 7949 tons of iris mat, The current tariff of 3% - 6% will be applied If these quantities are exceeded, the tariff rate will be increased by 225 yen per kilogram of green onion, 256% (3% of the current tariff rate), 635 yen per kilogram of fresh mushroom, 266% (4.3% of the current tariff rate), 306 yen per kilogram of iris mat, and an increase will be made The tariff rate is 106% (the current tariff rate is 6%) If the three agricultural products are subject to additional tariffs, the wholesale price in Japan will rise significantly Take scallion as an example, its wholesale price will be equivalent to the price of domestic scallion before a large number of imported Chinese scallions, i.e 337 yen per kilogram In recent years, Japan's actual imports of green onion, shiitake mushroom and iris mat, three kinds of agricultural products, increased greatly In 1996, Japan imported 1504 tons of green onion, increased to 37375 tons in 2000, and the price decreased from 352 yen per kilogram to 222 yen; in 1996, Japan imported 24394 tons of fresh shiitake mushroom, increased to 42057 tons in 2000, and the retail price decreased from 1079 yen per kilogram to 915 yen; in 1996, Japan imported rush straw mat 11.369 million, increased to 20.30 million in 2000, and the price dropped from 1302 yen to 970 yen This shows that Japanese consumers get huge benefits from it In the interview, the reporter found that there are few people in Japan who really support the government's practice Many people are criticizing the government and the LDP for the immediate interests of one party and ignoring the long-term interests of the people "It's a pity that the government restricts the import of Chinese agricultural products It's a protectionist act that hinders the self-help efforts of enterprises We must be vigilant," Okada yuan, President of Japan chain store association, told reporters "Some restaurant operators and frozen food producers who use Chinese vegetables have expressed their opposition to the government's restrictions on the import of Chinese agricultural products, because once the import restrictions are implemented, their operations will be hit first Japanese public opinion generally believes that the Japanese government's announcement of the emergency import restrictions on China is actually a stupid way to harm others but not to benefit themselves If this measure is implemented, Japanese consumers and dealers will suffer a lot China feed industry information network 4js