TOKYO, Aug 4: The Japanese government has decided to extend for another year anti-dumping tariffs for 15 American products, reports said on Friday.Japan will maintain 15 per cent punitive tariffs on US ball bearings and steel products until August 31, 2007 in retaliation against the continued implementation of a controversial US anti-dumping trade law known as the Byrd Amendment, Kyodo News said.

The measures, which originally started last year, will become effective Sept 1, after the cabinet gives its approval, Jiji Press said.

The punitive tariffs for the coming year from September can amount to as much as 5.9 billion yen ($51 million), Jiji said.

The WTO has ruled as illegal the so-called Byrd Amendment because it distributed funds to US firms affected by unfair trade.

The law enacted in 2000 redistributes US levies on dumping to the US companies that complained. Critics say this puts exporters to the US at a disadvantage.

The amendment has provoked ire from major trading partners, leading to retaliatory sanctions from Japan, the European Union and Canada. —AFP