Japan plans second round of tariff cuts for April 1

Japan plans to reduce import tariffs on 228 items by an average of almost half beginning next April 1, in its second package of cuts aimed at promoting imports, the Finance Ministry said.

The ministry estimated that the cuts would cost Japan $64 million a year in lost income. The import items, which include computers, car parts, and even turkey meat, were worth $3.2 billion in 1981 - less than 3 percent of Japan's total imports.