“We have committed under the World Trade Organization not to impose tariffs above our bound rates and to treat all WTO members fairly, provided they meet their own obligations,” the minister told reporters.
Katsunobu added that it would be difficult “to jack up tariffs to, say, 50% just because a country imports oil from Russia.”
The comments follow a G7 discussion on sanctions related to Russian energy exports during an online meeting on Sept. 12. According to the report, Washington urged its partners to consider duties of up to 100% on Chinese and Indian goods—as a penalty for importing vast quantities of Russian crude.
Japan continues to rely on Russian energy, importing both crude oil and liquefied natural gas. The volumes, however, are insignificant: in June, Russian oil accounted for about 1% of Japan’s total crude imports, according to the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry
“We are exploring the most effective forms of pressure [on Moscow], and we are coordinating closely with our G7 partners,” Kato said, referring to efforts to end the Russo–Ukrainian war.
Bloomberg sources say G7 representatives are drafting a new sanctions package, aiming to finalize it within two weeks. The U.S. proposal reportedly calls for secondary tariffs of 50% to 100% on China and India.
On Sept. 10, U.S. President Donald Trump urged the European Union to impose 100% duties on Chinese and Indian goods to increase pressure on Russia. Two days later, Japan lowered its price cap on Russian crude imports from $60 to $47.60 per barrel.