Japan backtracks on salt

Salt can be a contentious issue

The Japanese government has bowed to pressure from salt producers, fearful of the impact of the planned liberalisation of the industry.

The government now plans to introduce tariffs on imported salt from April, in theory when the industry was expected to be freed up.

Salt has been a government monopoly since pre-modern times until 1997.

Now, despite five years of preparation, salt producers say they are not ready to lose their protection against competitors.

Some analysts are highlighting the government's attitude to salt as an illustration of its attitude to competition.

Leading salt producers

United States

China

Germany

The government has therefore decided to impose tariffs on imported salt for several years after the original date for dismantling protective practices," Ron Bevaqua, analyst at Commerzbank Tokyo told the BBC's World Business Report.

"Really the focus ought to be on liberalising the economy and changing the structure of politics so these minor interests cannot influence the policy of an entire country," he said.