WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of the U.S. Trade
Representative today submitted to Japan an extensive set of reform
recommendations intended to further open the Japanese market to
U.S. companies in key sectors. The recommendations include measures to
speed the delivery of cutting-edge drugs to patients, streamline customs
procedures, and strengthen competition policy in the mobile and wire-line
telecommunications sectors in Japan.
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for
Japan,
Korea, and
APEC Affairs Wendy Cutler presented the recommendations to the Japanese
Government today at the outset of a Trade Forum meeting in
Seattle,
Washington, where
the two Governments are addressing a number of pressing bilateral trade issues,
including the prompt reopening of the Japanese market to
U.S.
beef.
“The
United
States is
taking every opportunity to press
Japan to
expeditiously reopen its market to
U.S. beef,
which remains a top priority of this Administration,” said U.S. Trade
Representative Rob Portman.
Regulatory Reform
Initiative
“While we welcome Prime Minister Koizumi’s
bold economic reform agenda, we are also looking forward to more being done to
sweep away the maze of regulations that hamper the ability of
U.S. companies to do business in
Japan.
This will not only promote international commerce, but also keep
Japan on a growth trajectory. Furthermore, as the largest economy in
Asia, Japan’s efforts to deregulate set a good example
for other countries in the region working to liberalize their economies,”
Portman said.
“It is crucial for
Japan to clearly establish a level playing field
in its plans to move ahead with the momentous reform of Japan Post,” stressed
Portman. The
United
States is placing a special focus in its
recommendations on Japan’s plans to reform Japan Post. Now that key legislation to privatize
Japan Post has passed the Japanese Diet, the United States’ concerns center on
ensuring Japan’s implementation of this reform does not unfairly disadvantage
private companies, including U.S. companies, in the banking, insurance, and
express delivery sectors.
This year’s recommendations also place a
significant focus on developments in Japan’s medical devices and pharmaceuticals
sectors. “Given the huge number of
cutting-edge medical devices and pharmaceuticals provided to the Japanese market
by U.S. companies, it is important they have ample
and meaningful opportunities to input into healthcare policies and reforms the
Japanese Government is considering.
Of particular importance is that
Japan’s healthcare pricing policies reward
innovation,” Portman added.
Submitted under the U.S.-Japan Regulatory
Reform and Competition Policy Initiative (Regulatory Reform Initiative), the
recommendations presented to the Japanese Government today also cover key areas
such as information technologies, intellectual property protection,
telecommunications, agriculture, distribution, and competition
policy.
Assistant USTR Cutler presented the
recommendations to Kaoru Ishikawa, Director-General of the Japanese Foreign
Ministry’s Economic Affairs Bureau.
Each year, the two Governments exchange reform recommendations in the
fall under the Regulatory Reform Initiative, which was launched by President
Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi in 2001 as a key component of the U.S.-Japan
Economic Partnership for Growth.
The recommendations serve as a basis for an annual report to the two
leaders, specifying reform measures to be taken by each Government. USTR is the
lead agency for the U.S. Government for this Initiative while the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs takes the lead for the Japanese
Government.
A summary and detailed annex of the reform
recommendations can be found on the USTR website.
Trade Forum
During the Trade Forum meeting today, the two
Governments are addressing a range of key bilateral issues. The U.S. Government, in particular, will
be urging Japan to expeditiously reopen its market to
U.S. beef.
Other items on the agenda for the one-day
Trade Forum include market access concerns related to construction and marine
craft, possible new restrictions on establishment of large retail stores, and a
proposal to reform Japan’s liquor tax that could disadvantage U.S. wine
exporters. The Trade Forum is also
an important part of the U.S.-Japan Economic Partnership for
Growth.
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