Japan gov't ends tariff on Hynix

The Japan government has announced that it would end punitive tariffs on PC memory ICs made by Hynix Semiconductor, according to an AFP report. This would bring an end to a three-year trade dispute, the report further noted.

The AFP report also revealed that a ministry official said that Tokyo decided to lift the measures because it was confirmed that Hynix no longer receives subsidies.

The tariffs were imposed on Hynix in 2006, citing an "unfair" bailout of the company by its creditors in 2002 and its alleged dumping of DRAM chips in Japan.

South Korea claimed that the decision breached world trade rules and was based on allegations only from Japanese firms. The World Trade Organization ruled last year that the Japanese government should remove duty on DRAM chips made by Hynix.

Tokyo's decision would help Hynix boost sales in the world's second largest economy, according to the company.