A clause in the UR Agreement on Agriculture that gives countries the option of foregoing tariffication on some commodities and instead requires minimum imports above the minimum access commitments of 3-5 percent of consumption. This clause was added to temporarily placate Japan and South Korea by providing protection for their rice sectors. In the case of Japan, for instance, the minimum import requirements for rice are at 4 percent of consumption in 1995, rising to 8 percent in 2000.