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The following text is intended for general reference only. It is currently under review for accuracy and completeness, as well as formatting.
The Honorable Masami Tanabu
Minister of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries
Tokyo, Japan
Dear Mr. Minister:
This letter reflects our joint, serious assessment of where we stand concerning the entry of U.S. apples into Japan following the June 7-8 technical discussions in Washington.
Your technical team has now detailed the remaining technical requirements or entry of U.S. apples into your market. Our scientists understand the remaining requirements and will complete themexpeditiously. However, despite previous oral commitments from the Japanese side, the schedule for completion of the remaining technical work as proposed by the Japanese team will make entry into Japan of the 1993 and 1994 U. S. crop years impossible. This situation is unacceptable.
The U.S. Government and industry have been working on technical issues for over a decade to gain access to the Japanese apple market. This issue has been marked by a series of changing requirements on the Japanese side and by a Japanese lack of flexibility in technical consultations. The U.S. side, for its part, has bent over backwards to accommodate Japanese concerns. For example, at the June talks the Japanese side discussed technical issues that had only been recently raised and that were, in the view of our scientists, of questionable scientific value. Nonetheless, in the interest of moving the issue forward, our scientists agreed to accept the Japanese requirements.
The steps needed now are clear. First, to avoid further misunderstandings, we must have a written list, approved at senior political levels, of all remaining Japanese requirements. We have attached the list agreed upon orally by the Japanese and U.S. technical teams at the June discussions. Unless we hear immediately from you to the contrary, we will assume that you have confirmed that the enclosed document should be treated as the complete list of remaining Japanese requirements.
Second, we seek your confirmation, on behalf of your government, that all remaining Japanese technical and rulemaking procedures will be completed in time to insure the entry of 1994 crop year. U.S. apples into Japan. We understand that this commitment will require some administrative flexibility on your part. For example, it might require elimination of the Japanese confirmation inspection
The Honorable Masami Tanabu
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at blossom time (step 4 D in the enclosed list), a procedure whose technical necessity is questioned by our experts. Elimination of that step would permit finalization of the bilateral export protocol this year and would permit the Japanese rulemaking process to be completed before the 1994 U.S. apple harvest.
Japanese inspectors could then be dispatched to oversee the harvesting and. treatment of the 1994 crop, prior to its entry into Japan.
Alternatively, you might wish to keep the confirmation inspection at blossom time and finalize the export protocol in June, 1994, asproposed by MAFF at "the June, 1993 technical discussions. According to MAFF's schedule, as presented at the June meetings, the Japanese rulemaking process would then take place in the period July-November, 1994. Under this schedule, insuring entry of 1.994 crop year apples into Japan would require the dispatching of Japanese inspectors to view the 1994 U.S. harvest (August-October, 1994) while the Japanese rulemaking process was still ongoing in Japan.
There may be other ways to arrange the schedule of data exchanges, inspections, and rulemaking procedures to insure the entry of 1994 crop year U.S. apples into Japan. We offer the above as illustrations only. The key element is ending the 22 year ban an U.S. apples in the Japanese market. Given repeated informal understandings with Japanese officials which have not been implemented, we now need a written Japanese commitment to complete all steps necessary to allow entry of 1994 crop year U.S. apples into Japan.
We must move decisively to remove the final roadblocks to U.S. apple imports. Interest in this highly symbolic issue is growing in the Congress and the Administration. Without an agreement which leads to access for our 1994 crop apples, we will have to consider actions the U.S. Government can take to bring this matter to an acceptable conclusion.
We look forward to receiving your reply before the end of next week.
Sincerely,
Michael Kantor Mike Espy
U.S Trade Representative Secretary of Agriculture
Enclosure
The Under Secretary of Agriculture
for International Affairs and Commodity Programs
Washington, DC
Mr. Jiro Shiwaku
Vice Minister for International Affairs
Japan Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and
Fisheries
2-1, Kasumigaseki, 1-chome
Chiyoda-ku Tokyo, 100
Japan
Dear Mr. Shiwaku:
Thank you for your letter of September 13, 1993 regarding entry of our 1994 apple crop into Japan. I am very pleased that we have developed a solution to a long-standing and difficult problem that has caused conflict our in our trade relations. The memorandum included in your letter provides assurance that all remaining Japanese actions necessary for the entry of U.S. 1994 crop apples will be forthcoming, forthcoming completion of the remaining technical requirements.
The final requirements, which were detailed at the June 7-8 Japan-U.S. bilateral meetings and reconfirmed in writing through your Agricultural Counselor Yokoyoma on August 27, are scheduled for completion by May, 1994. Our technical experts and our industry have moved expeditiously to provide the requested data and to arrange the agreed confirmatory tests. I have been informed that your MAFF scientists will arrive in the U.S. on October 1 for the on-site fireblight confirmation tests. Your efforts with regard to meeting this important deadline have been very helpful.
I trust you understand that, since this year's crop is not being exported to Japan it has not been possible to put all parts of the fireblight program into place in each orchard. We are confident, however, that sufficient representative production areas win be available in order for MAFF scientists to satisfy their requirements.
Of course, ad growers participating in the program in 1994 will be subject to the full fireblight detection program described in the work plan.
I want to emphasize that we very much appreciate your commitment regarding entry of the 1994 U.S. apple crop. You can be assured that I will do everything possible to ensure that we meet our obligations. I look forward to our continued close cooperation.
Sincerely,
Eugene Moos
(Translation)
The Honorable Michael Kantor
U.S Trade Representatives
Dear Mr. Ambassador:
In leaving my office due to the change in political power in our country, I would like to express my appreciation for you efforts to maintain a cooperative relationship between Japan and the United States.
I read you letter of July 27 addressing the remaining quarantineissues on the importation of U.S. apples. I understood that the requirements listed in the document attached to your letter are being carried out expeditiously, in accordance with the arrangement made at the Japan-U.S. annual technical discussions on plant quarantine held on June 7 - 9.
Specifically, reports from our experts dispatched to the U.S. to make confirmation on the disinfestation test against codling moths assured us that the tests began successfully and on schedule. I also understand that other tests, including disinfestation tests against lesser apple worms fire blight, are conducted successfully.
I sincerely hope all of the remaining procedures will be carried out smoothly through efforts by both sides and in accordance with the list attached to your letter.
I would like to brief my successor in detail about the concernsexpressed in your letter, as well as the background and the U.S. position on this issue.
I hope we can continue our personal relationship for the further development of the U.S. - Japan relationship.
I have sent a similar letter to Secretary Espy, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Sincerely,
(Signature)
Masami Tanbu
Minister of Agriculture
Forestry and Fisheries
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