RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  GPA/W/255 
4 March 2003 
 (03-1254) 
Committee on Government Procurement Original:   English 
  
 
PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS TO APPENDIX I OF JAPAN 
 
Notification from Japan under Article XXIV:6(a)
1 of the GPA  
  
 The following notification from the Permanent Mission of Japan was received on 
3 March 2003 with the request that it be circulated  to the Parties to the Agreement on Government 
Procurement.  
_______________ 
 
   Pursuant to Article XXIV , paragraph 6(a) of the WT O Agreement on Government 
Procurement (GPA), the Government of Japan  wishes to notify the Committee on Government 
Procurement of the following rectifications of a purel y formal nature with regard to Annexes 3 and 5 
and the General Notes of Appendix I of the Ag reement (cf. WT/Let/400 and WT/Let/425/Rev.1): 
  - delete "- Postal Life Insurance Welfar e Corporation" in Group A in the "List of 
Entities" in Annex 3; 
 
 - add "- Japan Post" in Group A in the "List of Entities" in Annex 3; 
  - modify the relevant thresholds for construction services in Annex 3 as follows: 
   " Construction services:  
  4,500 thousand SDR for Japan Post in Group A  
  15,000 thousand SDR for all other  entities in Group A 
  4,500 thousand SDR for entities in Group B    Architectural, engineering and other technical services covered by this Agreement:   450 thousand SDR"; 
 
 - delete "- Postal Life Insurance Welfar e Corporation" in Group A in the "List of 
Entities which procure the services, specified in Annex 4" in Annex 3; 
 
                                                     
 
1 Article XXIV:6(a) reads as follows:  "Rectifications , transfers of an entity from one Annex to another 
or, in exceptional cases, other modifications relating to Appendices I through IV shall be notified to the 
Committee, along with information as to  the likely consequences of the change for the mutually agreed coverage 
provided in this Agreement.  If the rectifications, transfers or other modifications are of a purely formal or minor 
nature, they shall become effective provided there is no  objection within 30 days.  In other cases, the Chairman 
of the Committee shall promptly convene a meeting of the Committee.  The Committee shall consider the proposal and any claim for compensato ry adjustments, with a view to maintaining a balance of rights and 
obligations and a comparable level of mutually agreed coverage provided in this Agreement prior to such 
notification.  In the event of agr eement not being reached, the matter may be pursued in accordance with the 
provisions contained in Article XXII." GPA/W/255 
Page 2  
 
 
  - add "- Japan Post" in Group A in the " List of Entities which procure the services, 
specified in Annex 4" in Annex 3; 
  - modify the relevant thresholds in Annex 5 as follows:  
  "4,500 thousand SDR for entities set out in ANNEX 1; 
  15,000 thousand SDR for those in ANNEX 2;   4,500 thousand SDR for Japan Post in Group A in ANNEX 3 ; 
  15,000 thousand SDR for all other entities  in Group A in ANNEX 3;  and 
  4,500 thousand SDR for entities  in Group B in ANNEX 3"; 
 
 - modify paragraph 1 of "GENERAL NOTES" as follows:    "1. For goods and services (including construction services) of Canada and 
suppliers of such goods and services, this  Agreement does not apply to procurement 
by the entities listed in Annexes 2 and 3 (except for Japan Post in Group A and the 
entities  in Group B set out in Annex 3)." 
  The above rectifications are the result of th e following organizational changes relating to a 
central government entity listed in Annex 1 and an entity in Annex 3: 
 
 (1) In the reform process of Japan's central government and public corporations, the 
following two organs are to be abolished: 
   - the Postal Service Agency, an indepe ndent organ of the Ministry of Public 
 Management, Home Affairs, Posts a nd Telecommunications in Annex 1, and 
 
  - the Postal Life Insurance Welfare Corporation in Group A of Annex 3.    The undertakings, which have been in th e past carried out by the above-mentioned 
two organs, are now to be conducted by Japan Post.  Under the Law Concerning 
Japan Post (Law No. 97 of 31 July 2002)  and the relevant ordinances, this 
organization change will be implemented as of 1 April 2003.  Japan Post will be 
established as a public corporation, lega lly independent from the government, and 
will perform transferred undertakings efficien tly and effectively.  (The outline of this 
entity is contained in Attachment A hereto.) 
 
 (2) Since this new organization does not fall within the central government entities 
covered by the Accounts Law, and is not provided for in the National Government 
Organization Law, nor in the Law establishi ng the Cabinet Office, Japan has decided 
to add this entity to Annex 3 regarding both supplies and services (under Group A in 
the "List of Entities" and the "List of Entities which procure the services, specified in Annex 4") with the following thresholds and conditions, in order to maintain a 
balance of rights and obligations and a compar able level of mutually agreed coverage 
in this Agreement prior to this notification. 
   Although the threshold of 15,000 thou sand SDR for construction services has been 
applied to the Postal Life Insurance Welfar e Corporation in Group A of Annex 3, the 
new entity (Japan Post) shall have a threshold of 4,500 thousand SDR for 
construction services, which is the figure currently applied to the Postal Service 
Agency of the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications in Annex 1.  GPA/W/255 
 Page 3 
 
 
 
  
 (3) The new entity will implement accounti ng rules as of 1 April 2003 to apply the 
relevant thresholds and procedures under th e Agreement.  The challenge procedures, 
as provided for in Article XX of the Agreem ent, will apply to procurement conducted 
by this entity, which will fall under the control of the Ministry of Public 
Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications. 
  Attachment B
2 provides a summary of the modifications proposed by Japan to pages 1 and 3 
of Annex 3, Annex 5 and the General Notes of Appendix I.  Attachment C2 indicates how Annexes 3 
and 5 and the General Notes of A ppendix I would appear after the pr oposed modifications have been 
made. 
                                                      
2 Attachments B and C are in English only. GPA/W/255 
Page 4  
 
 
  
ATTACHMENT A 
 
OUTLINE OF JAPAN POST 
(TO BE ESTABLISHED AS OF 1 APRIL 2003) 
 
  A. 
PURPOSE  
To comprehensively and efficiently carry out the work related to postal services, postal 
savings, postal money orders, postal transfers, pos tal life insurance, etc. as a government-owned 
public corporation, but which is financially self sufficient.  B. 
SCOPE OF THE WORK  
 (1) Work related to postal services, postal savings, postal money orders, postal transfers 
and postal life insurance. 
  (2) The sale of revenue stamps and the is suance of pensions and other treasury funds 
through entrustment from the State. 
  (3) Other services (e.g. the invitation of  subscriptions to government bonds, foreign 
currency exchange, the treatment of traveller's cheques). 
 C. 
ORGANIZATION  
 Head Office:  Tokyo 
 Other Post Offices: 24,700 offices nationwide 
 
D. RELATIONS WITH THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT  
 The competent ministry for this organization is the Ministry of Public Management, Home 
Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications.    GPA/W/255 
 Page 5 
 
APPENDIX I JAPAN  ANNEX 3 Page 1/5
 
 
5 September 2001 (WT/Let/400)  ATTACHMENT B 
 
JAPAN 
 
(Authentic in the English language only) 
 
ANNEX 3 
 
All Other Entities which Procure in Accordance 
With the Provisions of this Agreement  
 
Supplies  
 
Threshold : 
 
130 thousand SDR 
  
List of Entities : 
 1. Group A 
 
- Water Resources Development Public 
Corporation 
- Japan Regional Development Corporation 
- Japan Green Resources Corporation 
- Japan National Oil Corporation (c) 
- Japan Railway Construction Public Corporation 
(a) (d) 
- New Tokyo International Airport Authority 
- Japan Highway Public Corporation - Metropolitan Expressway  Public Corporation 
- Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation 
- Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority - Urban Development Corporation (a) 
- Japan Science and Technology Corporation 
- Japan Nuclear Cycle Development  Institute (b) 
- Japan Environment Corporation 
- Japan International Cooperation Agency - Social Welfare and Medical Service Corporation 
- Government Pension Investment Fund 
- Agriculture and Livestock Industries 
Corporation 
- Metal Mining Agency of Japan (c) 
- Japan Small and Medium Enterprise Corporation 
-
 Postal Life Insurance Welfare Corporation  
- Japan Post  
- Labour Welfare Corporation 
 - Employment and Human Resources Development 
Organization of Japan 
- Okinawa Development Finance Corporation 
- National Life Finance Corporation - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Finance 
Corporation 
- Japan Finance Corporation for Small Business - Housing Loan Corporation 
- Japan Finance Corporation for Municipal 
Enterprises 
- Development Bank of Japan 
- Japan Bank for International Cooperation 
- Teito Rapid Transit Authority (a) 
- Japan Tobacco Inc. 
- Hokkaido Railway Company (a) - East Japan Railway Company (a) 
- Central Japan Railway Company (a) 
- West Japan Railway Company (a) - Shikoku Railway Company (a) 
- Kyushu Railway Company (a) 
- Japan Freight Railway Company (a) - Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Co. (f) 
- Northern Territories Issue Association 
- Japan Consumers Information Center - Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (b) 
- RIKEN (The Institute of Physical and Chemical 
Research) (b) 
- Pollution-Related Health Damage Compensation 
Association 
- Fund for the Promotion and Development of the 
Amami Islands 
- Japan Foundation 
- The Japan Scholarship Foundation 
 
 GPA/W/255 
Page 6  
APPENDIX I JAPAN  ANNEX 3 Page 3/5
 
 
27 June 2002 (WT/Let/425/Rev.1)  
  
Supplies (cont'd)  
 
- National Traffic Safety and Environment 
Laboratory 
- National Maritime Research Institute - Port and Airport Research Institute 
- Electronic Navigation Research Institute 
- Civil Engineering Research Institute of 
Hokkaido 
- Marine Technical College 
- National Institute for Sea Training - Schools for Seafarers Training 
- Civil Aviation College 
- National Institute for Environmental Studies 
- Labor Management Organization for USFJ 
Employees 
- National Agency for Vehicle Inspection 
 
 Services  
 
Threshold :   
 
Construction services :   
4,500 thousand SDR for Japan Post in Group A
 
15,000 thousand SDR for all other  entities in Group 
A 
4,500 thousand SDR for entities in Group B  
Architectural, engineering and other technical 
services covered by this Agreement:    450 thousand SDR 
 
 Other services :  130 thousand SDR 
 
List of Entities which procure the services, specified 
in Annex 4 : 
 1. Group A 
 
- Water Resources Development Public 
Corporation 
- Japan Regional Development Corporation 
- Japan Green Resources Corporation - Japan National Oil Corporation (c) 
- Japan Railway Construction Public Corporation 
(a) (d) 
 - New Tokyo International Airport Authority 
- Japan Highway Public Corporation - Metropolitan Expressway  Public Corporation 
- Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation 
- Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority - Urban Development Corporation (a) 
- Japan Science and Technology Corporation 
- Japan Nuclear Cycle Development  Institute (b) 
- Japan Environmental Corporation 
- Japan International Cooperation Agency - Social Welfare and Medical Service Corporation 
- Government Pension Investment Fund 
- Agriculture and Livestock Industries Corporation 
- Metal Mining Agency of Japan (c) 
- Japan Small and Medium Enterprise Corporation -
 Postal Life Insurance Welfare Corporation  
- Japan Post  
- Labour Welfare Corporation - Employment and Human Resources Development 
Organization of Japan 
- Okinawa Development Finance Corporation - National Life Finance Corporation 
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Finance 
Corporation 
- Japan Finance Corporation for Small Business 
- Housing Loan Corporation 
- Japan Finance Corporation for Municipal 
Enterprises 
- Development Bank of Japan 
- Japan Bank for International Cooperation - Teito Rapid Transit Authority (a) 
- Japan Tobacco Inc. (g) 
- Hokkaido Railway Company (a)(g) - East Japan Railway Company (a)(g) 
- Central Japan Railway Company (a)(g)  
- West Japan Railway Company (a)(g) 
- Shikoku Railway Company (a)(g) 
- Kyushu Railway Company (a)(g) - Japan Freight Railway Company (a)(g) 
- Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Co. (f)(g) 
- Northern Territories Issue Association - Japan Consumers Information Center 
 
  GPA/W/255 
 Page 7 
 
APPENDIX I JAPAN  ANNEX 5 Page 1/1
 
 
5 September 2001 (WT/Let/400)    
ANNEX 5 
 
Construction Services  
 
 
Definition : 
  A construction services contract is a contract  which has as its objective the realization by 
whatever means of civil or building works, in the sense of Division 51 of the Central Product 
Classification (CPC).    
 
List of Division 51, CPC :   
  All services list ed in Division 51. 
 
 
Threshold : 4,500 thousand SDR for entities set out in ANNEX 1; 
  15,000 thousand SDR for those in ANNEX 2;   4,500 thousand SDR for Japan Post in Group A in ANNEX 3;
 
  15,000 thousand SDR for those  all other entities  in Group A in ANNEX 3;  and 
  4,500 thousand SDR for those  entities  in Group B in ANNEX 3. 
 GPA/W/255 
Page 8  
APPENDIX I JAPAN  GENERAL NOTES Page 1/1
 
 
5 September 2001 (WT/Let/400)  
  
GENERAL NOTES 
  1. For goods and services (including construction services) of Canada and suppliers of such goods 
and services, this Agreement does no t apply to procurement by the ent ities listed in Annexes 2 and 3 
(except for thos
e listed  Japan Post in Group A and the entities  in Group B set out in Annex 3). 
 2. In case Parties do not apply Article XX to suppliers or servic e providers of Japan in contesting 
the award of contract by entities, Japan may not apply the Article to suppliers or  service providers of the 
Parties in contesting the award of cont racts by the same kind of entities. 
 
 
  GPA/W/255 
 Page 9 
 
APPENDIX I JAPAN  ANNEX 3 Page 1/5
 
 
… 2003 (WT/Let/…) ATTACHMENT C 
 
JAPAN 
 
(Authentic in the English language only) 
  
ANNEX 3 
 
All Other Entities which Procure in Accordance 
With the Provisions of this Agreement  
 
 
Supplies  
 
Threshold : 
 
130 thousand SDR  
 
List of Entities : 
 
1. Group A 
 
- Water Resources Development Public 
Corporation 
- Japan Regional Development Corporation 
- Japan Green Resources Corporation 
- Japan National Oil Corporation (c) - Japan Railway Construction Public Corporation 
(a) (d) 
- New Tokyo International Airport Authority - Japan Highway Public Corporation 
- Metropolitan Expressway  Public Corporation 
- Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation - Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority 
- Urban Development Corporation (a) 
- Japan Science and Technology Corporation - Japan Nuclear Cycle Development 
 Institute (b) 
- Japan Environment Corporation - Japan International Cooperation Agency 
- Social Welfare and Medical Service Corporation 
- Government Pension Investment Fund - Agriculture and Livestock Industries 
Corporation 
- Metal Mining Agency of Japan (c) 
- Japan Small and Medium Enterprise Corporation 
- Japan Post - Labour Welfare Corporation 
 - Employment and Human Resources Development 
Organization of Japan 
- Okinawa Development Finance Corporation - National Life Finance Corporation 
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Finance 
Corporation 
- Japan Finance Corporation for Small Business 
- Housing Loan Corporation 
- Japan Finance Corporation for Municipal 
Enterprises 
- Development Bank of Japan - Japan Bank for International Cooperation 
- Teito Rapid Transit Authority (a) 
- Japan Tobacco Inc. - Hokkaido Railway Company (a) 
- East Japan Railway Company (a) 
- Central Japan Railway Company (a) - West Japan Railway Company (a) 
- Shikoku Railway Company (a) 
- Kyushu Railway Company (a) - Japan Freight Railway Company (a) 
- Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Co. (f) 
- Northern Territories Issue Association - Japan Consumers Information Center 
- Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (b) 
- RIKEN (The Institute of Physical and Chemical 
Research) (b) 
- Pollution-Related Health Damage Compensation 
Association 
- Fund for the Promotion and Development of the 
Amami Islands 
- Japan Foundation 
- The Japan Scholarship Foundation 
 
 GPA/W/255 
Page 10  
APPENDIX I JAPAN  ANNEX 3 Page 3/5
 
 
… 2003 (WT/Let/…)  
Supplies (cont'd)  
 
- National Traffic Safety and Environment 
Laboratory 
- National Maritime Research Institute - Port and Airport Research Institute 
- Electronic Navigation Research Institute 
- Civil Engineering Research Institute of 
Hokkaido 
- Marine Technical College 
- National Institute for Sea Training - Schools for Seafarers Training 
- Civil Aviation College 
- National Institute for Environmental Studies 
- Labor Management Organization for USFJ 
Employees 
- National Agency for Vehicle Inspection 
- National Printing Bureau 
 
 
Services  
 
Threshold :   
 
Construction services :   
4,500 thousand SDR for Japan Post in Group A 
15,000 thousand SDR for all other entities in Group 
A 
4,500 thousand SDR for entities in Group B 
 
Architectural, engineering and other technical services covered by this Agreement:    
450 thousand SDR 
  
Other services :  130 thousand SDR 
 
List of Entities which procure the services, specified 
in Annex 4 : 
 
1. Group A 
 - Water Resources Development Public 
Corporation 
- Japan Regional Development Corporation - Japan Green Resources Corporation 
- Japan National Oil Corporation (c) 
- Japan Railway Construction Public Corporation 
(a) (d) 
 - New Tokyo International Airport Authority 
- Japan Highway Public Corporation - Metropolitan Expressway  Public Corporation 
- Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation 
- Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority - Urban Development Corporation (a) 
- Japan Science and Technology Corporation 
- Japan Nuclear Cycle Development  Institute (b) 
- Japan Environmental Corporation 
- Japan International Cooperation Agency - Social Welfare and Medical Service Corporation 
- Government Pension Investment Fund 
- Agriculture and Livestock Industries Corporation 
- Metal Mining Agency of Japan (c) 
- Japan Small and Medium Enterprise Corporation - Japan Post 
- Labour Welfare Corporation 
- Employment and Human Resources Development 
Organization of Japan 
- Okinawa Development Finance Corporation 
- National Life Finance Corporation - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Finance 
Corporation 
- Japan Finance Corporation for Small Business - Housing Loan Corporation 
- Japan Finance Corporation for Municipal 
Enterprises 
- Development Bank of Japan 
- Japan Bank for International Cooperation 
- Teito Rapid Transit Authority (a) - Japan Tobacco Inc. (g) 
- Hokkaido Railway Company (a)(g) 
- East Japan Railway Company (a)(g) - Central Japan Railway Company (a)(g)  
- West Japan Railway Company (a)(g) 
- Shikoku Railway Company (a)(g) 
- Kyushu Railway Company (a)(g) 
- Japan Freight Railway Company (a)(g) - Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Co. (f)(g) 
- Northern Territories Issue Association 
- Japan Consumers Information Center  
  GPA/W/255 
 Page 11 
 
APPENDIX I JAPAN  ANNEX 5 Page 1/1
 
 
… 2003 (WT/Let/…)  
ANNEX 5 
 
Construction Services  
 
 Definition : 
 
 A construction services contract is a contract  which has as its objective the realization by 
whatever means of civil or building works, in the sense of Division 51 of the Central Product 
Classification (CPC).     
List of Division 51, CPC :   
  All services list ed in Division 51. 
  
Threshold : 4,500 thousand SDR for entities set out in ANNEX 1; 
  15,000 thousand SDR for those in ANNEX 2;   4,500 thousand SDR for Japan Post in Group A in ANNEX 3;   15,000 thousand SDR for all other en tities in Group A in ANNEX 3;  and 
  4,500 thousand SDR for entities in Group B in ANNEX 3. 
 
 GPA/W/255 
Page 12  
APPENDIX I JAPAN  GENERAL NOTES Page 1/1
 
 
… 2003 (WT/Let/…)  
 
GENERAL NOTES 
  1. For goods and services (including construction services) of Canada and suppliers of such goods 
and services, this Agreement does no t apply to procurement by the ent ities listed in Annexes 2 and 3 
(except for Japan Post in Group A and the entities in Group B set out in Annex 3). 
 2. In case Parties do not apply Article XX to suppliers or servic e providers of Japan in contesting 
the award of contract by entities, Japan may not apply the Article to suppliers or  service providers of the 
Parties in contesting the award of cont racts by the same kind of entities. 
 
 
__________