General Note for Readers

1. This is the "handbook" of Japan's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) prepared by Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to give the general explanation of the system for officials and users who are in charge of GSP to better understand Japan's scheme.

2. The content of the "handbook" is based on the Temporary Tariff Measures Law, the Cabinet Order for Enforcement of the Temporary Tariff Measures Law and the Administrative Rule for Enforcement of the Temporary Tariff measures Law. Readers are advised to refer also to the texts of the law, the cabinet order and the administrative rule in Japanese, because in the case of dispute the original texts shall be the only guide.

3. The tariff item numbers in the lists are all in accordance with the nomenclature of the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS number). The descriptions in the lists are rewritten for reader's better understanding.

For the better understanding of tariff item numbers and descriptions of Japanese GSP eligible products and other products, for instance, CUSTOMS TARIFF SCHEDULES OF JAPAN, published by JAPAN TARIFF ASSOCIATION will be useful.