Japan calls for tougher WTO rules on anti-dumping

* Anti-dumping abuse could undermine tariff deal gains

* Japanese industry suffering from rolled-over duties

* Japan's leading exporters opposed to U.S. approach

By Jonathan Lynn

GENEVA, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Japan called on World Trade Organisation members on Wednesday to agree tougher rules on how far states can go to defend themselves against unfairly priced imports, warning excessive retaliation could disrupt commerce.

WTO rules allow members to impose duties on imports that are "dumped" -- or sold for less than they cost at home -- if they damage businesses in the importing country.

But such anti-dumping investigations and duties are often themselves criticised for being unfair and motivated by protectioniosm, and are the major cause of trade disputes.

Reform of anti-dumping rules was one of Japan's top priorities in the WTO's long-running Doha round, said Hiroyuki Ishige, vice-minister in Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

Japan feared that the gains to the world economy from cutting tariffs to open markets in a Doha deal could be undermined by unwarranted use of anti-dumping measures, he told a meeting of senior WTO negotiators.