RESTRICTED  
  
GPA/MOD/JPN/85  
27 juillet  2016 
(16-3993) Page: 1/9 
Comité des marchés public s Original:  anglais  
 
  MODIFICATIONS PROJETÉES DE L' APPENDICE I CONCERNANT LE JAPON  
AU TITRE DE L'ACCORD SUR LES MARCHÉS PUBLICS RÉVISÉ  
COMMUNICATION PRÉSENTÉE PAR LE JAPON  
Réponses du Japon aux questions posées par les États-Unis d'Amérique  
(GPA/MOD/JPN/83)  au sujet des modific ations projetées  
distribuées sous la cote  GPA/MOD/JPN/82  
La communication  ci-après, datée du 2 6 juillet  2016, est distribuée à la demande de la délégation  
du Japon . 
 
_______________  
RÉPONSE DU JAPON AUX QUES TIONS POSÉES PAR LES ÉTATS -UNIS  
(GPA/MOD/JPN/83) AU SU JET DES MODIFICATIONS  
PROJETÉES , DISTRIBUÉES SOUS LA COTE  
GPA/MOD/JPN/82  
Veuillez trouver ci -après la réponse du Japon aux questions posées par les États -Unis d'Amérique 
(GPA/MOD/JPN/83) au sujet de la modification projetée de l' appendice  I concernant  le Japon au 
titre de l'AMP révisé  (GPA/MOD/JPN/82) s'agissant de la Kyushu Railway Company.  
 
1. Au paragraph e 2, le Japon note  que la modification projetée  tient au fait que la 
modification  de la Loi concernant les sociétés de transport ferroviaire de voyage urs et la 
Japan Freight Railway Company  a été promulguée le 1 0 juin 2015 et est entrée en 
vigueur  le 1er avril 2016. Le Japon p ourrait -il communiquer la version anglaise de la Loi 
portant modification de la Loi concernant les sociétés de transport ferrovia ire de 
voyageurs  et la Japan Freight Railway Company ? 
Veuillez consulter  la pièce jointe . 
 
2. Au paragraphe  2.f, le Japon note que l'ensemble des parts de la société considérée 
doivent être vendues pour la fin du présent exercice budgétaire . Le Japon peut -il fournir 
des explications au sujet des obligations juridiques  qui imposent la vente totale des 
parts de la société pour la fin du présent exercice budgétaire ? 
La Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency (Agence japonaise de 
construction, transport et technologie ferroviaires   JRTT)  détient l'ensemble des parts de la 
Kyushu Railway Company . La JRTT est tenue de consulter le  Conseil au sujet de la cession d'actifs , 
conformément à  la Loi concernant le règlement des dettes de la Société pour le règlement de la 
dette de la Société nationale des chemins de fer japonais  et des autres questions restées en 
suspen s lors de la cession des parts de la  Kyushu Railway Company . Le Conseil a donc délibéré sur 
la cession des parts de la  Kyushu Railway Comp any et publié une recommandation à l'intention de 
la JRTT indiquant que  les parts devraient être vendues en tant que lot  au cours du présent 
exercice budgétaire . 
 
3. Il y a plusieurs autres sociétés de transport ferroviaire couvertes par le Japon dans 
l'annex e 3, telles que la Hokkaido Railway Company et la Shikoku Railway Company . GPA/MOD/JPN/85  
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  Pourquoi la modification  de la Loi concernant les sociétés de transport ferroviaire de 
voyageurs  et la Japan Freight Railway Company prévoit -elle la privatisation de la seule  
Kyushu  Railway Company ? 
La politique de base du  gouvernement japonais prévoit la  privatis ation d es sociétés de transport 
ferroviaire de voyageurs  et de la Japan Freight Railway Company  dès que  possible , dès lors  que 
certaines conditions seront remplies , telles q ue la mise en place de capacités  de gestion , entre  
autres  choses , conformément aux décisions pertinentes prises par le Conseil des ministres  depuis 
les réformes de  Japanese National Railway . 
En ce qui concerne la  Kyushu Railway Company, i l a été jugé que l es conditions étaien t réunies 
pour une cotation en B ourse à la suite des délibérations du gouvernement japonais concernant l es 
éléments suivants : 
 
 la Kyushu Railway Company devrait afficher une gestion stable et saine après la 
privatisation;  
 
 la Kyushu Rai lway Company a mis en place  des capacités  de gestion . 
4. Le Japon a -t-il connaissance d'autres entités couvertes qui sont en cours de 
privatisation ? 
En juillet  2016, le gouvernement japonais n'a pas connaissance d'entités qui prévoi ent 
officiellement de vendr e leurs parts  comme la  Kyushu Railway Company.  
 
5. Quelle est la relation entre la Kyushu Railway Company et la Japan Railway 
Construction Transport and Technology Age ncy (entité mentionnée au point  1.33 de la 
liste figurant dans la pièce jointe  B, du documen t GPA/MOD/JPN/82) ? 
La JRTT détient les parts de la  Kyushu Railway Company . Au cours du processus de réforme de 
Japan National Railways , la JRTT a hérité  des actifs tels que les biens immobiliers et les part s des 
sociétés de transport ferroviaire de voyageu rs et de la Japan Freight Railway Company  détenus par 
Japan National Railways  ainsi que du passif concernant les rentes payables aux employés de Japan 
National Railways . L'Agence détient les parts de la  Kyushu Railway Company qui lui servent à 
verser  les rentes dues aux anciens employés de Japan National Railways.  
 
La JRTT mène des activités commerciales, fournit de s services de construction et de conseil 
concernant l'infrastructure ferroviaire et des études relatives aux projets ferroviaires et projets 
similaires . Ces services sont fournis à toute société de chemins de fer  et la JRTT peut passer des 
contrats avec la  Kyushu Railway Company.  
 GPA/MOD/JPN/85  
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  PIÈCE JOINTE1 
(Tentative Translation)  
 
 
1  THE AMENDMENT TO THE LAW CONCERNING PASSENGER RAILWAY COMPANIES AND 
JAPAN FRE IGHT RAILWAY COMPANY (EXCERPT)  
[Law No. 26 of 28 December 2016]  
 
The Law concerning Passenger Railway Companies and Japan Freight Railway Company shall 
be partially amended as follows:  
 
- Delete "Kyushu Railway Company  " from paragraph 1  of Article 1 and A rticle 2.  
 
 
Supplementary Provisions  
 
 
(Date of Enforcement)  
 
Article 1  
 
This Law shall come into force on the date to be determined by a Cabinet Order not later 
than one year from the date of its promulgation, provided that the provision of Article 6, 7 a nd 12 
of the Supplementary Provisions shall come into effect on the date of the promulgation.  
 
(Publication of the Guidelines)  
 
Article 2  
 
1. Taking into account the process of the reforms of the Japanese National Railways, which was 
implemented in accordance  with the purpose set forth in Article 1 of the Japanese National 
Railway Reform Law (Law No. 87 of 1986), the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and 
Tourism shall determine and publish the guidelines regarding matters that the New Companies 
shoul d consider for the time being in the conduct of their business (hereinafter referred to as 
the "Guidelines"), for the purpose of securing the convenience of the customers of the railway 
business operated by the entities listed below (hereinafter referred t o as the "New 
Companies"), and maintaining appropriate conditions for their use, and securing the 
foundation for the sound development of the economy and communities of the region in which 
the New Companies conduct their business.  
(1) Kyushu Railway Compan y established under the Law Concerning Passenger Railway 
Companies and Japan Freight Railway Company before the amendment by this Law 
(hereinafter referred to as the "Former Law") (hereinafter referred to as the "Kyushu 
Railway Company") ; and 
 
(2) entities  which operate from or will operate after the enforcement date of th is Law 
(hereinafter referred to as the "Enforcement Date"), as a result of sale, merger, 
division or inheritance, the whole or part of the railway business that was operated by 
Kyushu Rail way Company on the preceding day of the Enforcement Date, and which 
are or will be designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and 
Tourism in consideration of such factors as the contents, scale, shareholders and other 
circumstances of th eir railway business.  
 
 
 
 
                                                
1 En anglais seulement.  GPA/MOD/JPN/85  
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  2. The Guidelines shall provide  for the following matters:  
(1) matters related to the appropriate setting of passenger fares and rates and the 
smooth use of railway facilities between the Companies (meaning hereinafter in this 
subpar agraph , between the entities listed in the subparagraphs  of the preceding 
paragraph or between the entities listed in the subparagraphs  of the preceding 
paragraph and the C ompan ies under paragraph  3 of Article 1 of the Law Concerning 
the Passenger Railway Companies and Japan Freight Railway Company after the 
amendment by this Law or the New Companies under paragraph  1 of Article 2 of 
Supplementary Provision s of the Amendment to the Law Concerning the Passenger 
Railway Companies and Japan Freight Railway Com pany (Law No. 61 of 2001), and 
other matters related to securing of coordination and cooperation in the railway 
business between the Companies;  
 
(2) matters related to the appropriate maintenance of the currently operated railway 
routes in light of the tre nd of demand for transportation and other changes in 
circumstances following the implementation of the reform of the Japanese National 
Railways, and matters related to securing the convenience of customers in the 
development of stations and other railway f acilities ; and 
 
(3) matters related to consideration to be given to small and medium -sized enterprises 
engaged in business similar to that New Companies conduct in their business areas, 
by avoiding unfair interference with activities or unfair infringement  of interests of 
such small and medium -sized enterprises.  
 
(Guidance and advice)  
 
Article 3  
 
If it is deemed to be necessary to ensure that New Companies follow the Guidelines in the 
conduct of their business, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transpor t and Tourism may give to 
New Companies necessary guidance and advice on the conduct of their business.  
 
(Recommendation and order)  
 
Article 4  
 
1. If it is deemed that, in light of the Guidelines, New Companies fail to conduct their business 
with no justifiab le reasons in such a manner as to secure the convenience of the customers of the 
railway business operated by the New Companies and maintain appropriate conditions for their use 
and secure foundation for the sound development of the economy and communities  of the region 
where New Companies conduct their business, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and 
Tourism may issue to New Companies a recommendation that they take necessary measures 
regarding the conduct of their business.  
2. The Minister of La nd, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism may publish the fact if the New 
Companies that received the recommendation under the preceding paragraph fail to follow the 
recommendation.  
3. In the case that the New Companies which received the recommendation under  paragraph  1 
of this Article have failed to take measures in accordance with the recommendation with no 
justifiable reasons, even after the fact that they did not follow the recommendation was published 
under the provision of the preceding paragraph, and i f it is deemed that the assurance of the 
convenience of the customers of the railway business operated by the said New Companies, the 
maintenance of appropriate conditions for their use, or the assurance for the sound development 
of the economy and communi ties of the region where the said New Companies conduct their 
business has been severely jeopardized, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and 
Tourism may issue an order to the said New Companies that they take measures to follow the 
recommendat ion. 
4. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism shall consult with the Transport 
Council when issuing an order under the provision of the preceding paragraph.  GPA/MOD/JPN/85  
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  (Penal provision)  
 
Article 5  
 
If an order issued under paragraph 3 of the preced ing Article has been disobeyed, the 
directors of the New Companies which have disobeyed the order shall be liable to an 
administrative fine not exceeding one million yen.  
 
(Transitional measures ) 
 
Article 7  
 
Kyushu Railway Company will draw all the amount of the fund defined under paragraph 1 of 
Article 12 of the Former Law in order to appropriate  it to the cost required for its business 
operations on the preceding day ( Note: 31 May 2016) of the Enforcement Date.  
 
2  THE LAW CONCERNING PASSENGER RAILWAY COMPAN IES AND JAPAN FREIGHT 
RAILWAY COMPANY (EXCERPT)  
[Law No. 88 of 4 December  1986]  
 
[Amendment : Amended by Law Nos. 50 and 65 of 1990, No. 63 of 1993 and No.  61 of 2001]  
 
(Purposes and businesses of the Companies)  
 
Article 1  
 
1. Hokkaido Railway Company, Shikoku  Railway Company and Kyushu Railway  Company 
(hereinafter referred to as the "Passenger Companies") shall be stock companies whose purpose 
shall be to engage in the passenger railway business and other businesses incidental thereto.  
2. Japan Freight Railway Co mpany (hereinafter referred to as the "Freight Company") shall be 
a stock company whose purpose shall be to engage in the freight railway business and other 
businesses incidental thereto.  
3. The Passenger Companies and the Freight Company (hereinafter referre d to as "Company" 
or "Companies") shall respectively engage in the businesses referred to in paragraph 1 or the 
preceding paragraph and may additionally engage in the motor vehicle transportation business or 
other businesses subject to the approval of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport . In 
this case the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport shall give the approval unless the 
appropriate and sound management of the businesses referred to in paragraph 1 or the preceding 
paragraph is c onsidered to be jeopardized thereby.  
(Restriction on use of trade names)  
 
Article 2  
 
No person other than the Companies is allowed to use the words of Hokkaido Railway 
Company, Shikoku Railway Company and Kyushu Railway Company or Japan Freight Railway 
Company in his/her trade name.  
 
Article 3  Deleted (Law No. 63 of June 1995)  
 
(General mortgage)  
 
Article 4  
 
1. The bondholders of each Company are entitled to receive compensation for their credit, in 
preference to other creditors, out of the property of the Com pany concerned.  
2. The order of the lien under the preceding paragraph shall be immediately following the 
general line under the provisions of the Civil Code (Law No. 89 of 1896).  GPA/MOD/JPN/85  
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  (New stocks, corporate bonds and borrowings)  
 
Article 5  
 
1. Each Company shall obt ain the approval of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and 
Transport when it intends to issue new stocks, raise corporate bonds, or borrow funds with a 
repayment period of more than one year.  
2. The provision of the preceding paragraph is not applicable to the case where a Company 
issues replacement bonds in accordance with the applicable Cabinet Order and bears new 
liabilities.  
(Resolution on appointment of the representative director, etc.)  
 
Article 6  
 
A resolution of appointment or dismissal of the repres entative director and corporate 
auditors of each Company shall not become effective without approval of the Minister of Land, 
Infrastructure and Transport.  
 
(Annual business plan)  
 
Article 7  
 
Each Company shall, before the start of each business year, esta blish its annual business 
plan in accordance with the applicable ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport 
and Tourism and obtain the approval of it from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport . 
The approval shall be also requ ired when a Company intends to modify the same.  
 
(Transfer of important assets)  
 
Article 8  
 
Each Company shall obtain the approval of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and 
Transport if it intends to transfer important assets set forth in the applicable ordinance of the 
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism or to submit them as collateral.  
 
(Changes to the articles of incorporation)  
 
Article 9  
 
Resolutions on changes to the articles of incorporation, appropriation of the retained 
earning s or disposition of losses, mergers, corporate split -ups or liquidations of each Company 
shall not become effective without approval of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.  
 
(Consideration for small and medium -sized enterprises)  
 
Article 10  
 
Each Company shall, in consideration of the impact of its business operation on the 
economic activities in the region where it operates, take at most care not to unreasonably hamper 
the business operations of small and medium -sized enterprises engaged in the same field of 
business in the region or to unreasonably impair their business profit.  
 
(Financial statements)  
 
Article 11  
 
Each Company shall submit its balance sheets, income statements and business report for 
each business year to the Minister of Lan d, Infrastructure and Transport within three months after 
the end of each business year.  
 GPA/MOD/JPN/85  
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  (Management Stabilization Fund for Railway Companies)  
 
Article 12  
 
1. Railway Companies shall manage their fund equal to the amount of credit that they acquired 
respecti vely in accordance with the provision in paragraph 1 of Article 7 in the Supplementary 
Provisions as the Management Stabilization Fund (hereinafter referred to as the "Fund") and 
appropriate the profit from investing their Fund to the cost required for the ir business operations.  
2. Railway Companies shall keep a separate account for their Fund from other accounts in 
accordance with the applicable ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and 
Tourism.  
3. The Fund shall not be reduced . However, t he Fund may be reduced where the value of the 
net assets of a company concerned has diminished to less than the sum of its capital stock, 
reserves and Fund, and the approval of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has 
been obtained in advance . 
4. If the Fund of the company concerned has been reduced in accordance with the proviso of 
the preceding paragraph, and thereafter the value of the net assets of the company has exceeded 
the sum of its capital stock, reserves and the Fund, the amount equal to the portion exceeding 
that sum shall be added to the Fund until the amount of the Fund reaches the amount referred to 
in paragraph 1.  
5. Railway Companies shall invest their Fund in a safe and profitable manner.  
6. Except the matters stipulated in each of the  preceding paragraphs, the matters necessary 
for the management of the Fund shall be provided by ordinances of the Ministry of Land, 
Infrastructure,  Transport  and Tourism.  
(Supervision)  
 
Article 13  
 
1. Each Company shall be subject to supervision of the Minis ter of Land, Infrastructure, 
Transport and Tourism in accordance with the provisions of this Law.  
2. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport may, when it is considered especially 
necessary for the enforcement of this Law, give a supervisory order t o any Company concerning its 
business operations.  
(Reporting and inspection)  
 
Article 14  
 
1. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism may, if it is considered 
especially necessary for the enforcement of this Law, request any Company to subm it a report on 
its business, or have government officials enter the business establishment of any Company such 
as branches, offices and others, and inspect the books, documents, and other articles.  
2. The officials who perform the inspection by entering the p remises of the Company concerned 
in accordance with the provision of the preceding paragraph shall carry their identity cards and 
present the same to the persons concerned.  
3. The right of inspection by entering the premises of any Company under the provision  of 
paragraph 1 shall not be construed as admission for the purpose of criminal investigation.  
 
 GPA/MOD/JPN/85  
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  (Consultation with the Minister of Finance)  
 
Article 15  
 
The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism shall consult with the Minister of 
Finance , when giving an approval under paragraph 1 of Article 5 (except the matters related to 
issuance of new stocks), Article 7, 8 or 9 (except resolutions on changes to the articles of 
incorporation), or giving an approval under the proviso in paragraph 3 of A rticle 12.  
 
(Penal provisions)  
 
Article 16  
 
1. Any director, statutory auditor or employee of each Company who has received, demanded 
or promised a bribe in connection with his/her office capacity shall be liable to penal servitude of 
not exceeding three year s. If he/she has taken unfair action or has not taken reasonable action as 
a result, he/she shall be liable to penal servitude of not exceeding five years.  
2. In the case of the preceding paragraph, any bribe received by the criminal shall be 
confiscated . If the whole or part of it cannot be confiscated, the amount of money corresponding 
to the value of such portion shall be confiscated.  
Article 17  
 
1. Any person who has given, offered or promised to give a bribe referred to in paragraph 1 of 
the preceding Articl e shall be liable to penal servitude of not exceeding three years or a fine not 
exceeding one million yen.  
2. If a person who has committed the crime referred to in the preceding paragraph surrenders 
himself/herself to the authorities, his/her penalty may be reduced or exempted.  
Article 18  
 
The crimes under paragraph 1 of Article 16 shall follow the cases falling under Article 4 of 
the Criminal Law (Law No. 45 of 1907).  
 
Article 19  
 
Any director, statutory auditor or employee of each Company that refuses to su bmit a report 
under the provision in paragraph 1 of Article 14, or that has submitted a false report, or refused, 
hampered or avoided the inspection under the provision in the same paragraph shall be liable to a 
fine not exceeding ¥200,000.  
 
Article 20  
 
If a Company committed a violation falling under one of the following items, directors or 
statutory auditors of the Company shall be liable to a n administrative fine not exceeding 
¥1,000,000:  
 
(1) if a Company has conducted business in violation of the provi sion in paragraph 3 of 
Article 1;  
 
(2) if a Company has issued new shares, raised corporate bonds or borrowed funds in 
violation of the provision in paragraph 1 of Article 5;  
 
(3) if a Company has not obtained the approval for its business plan in violatio n of the 
provision in Article 7;  
 
(4) if a Company has transferred its properties or submitted them as collateral in violation 
of the provision in Article 8;  
 GPA/MOD/JPN/85  
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  (5) if a Company has not submitted its balance sheets, income statements or business 
report, or s ubmitted the same with false descriptions in violation of the provision in 
Article 11;  
 
(6) if a Company has reduced the Fund in violation of the provision in paragraph 3 of 
Article 12;  
 
(7) if a Company has not followed an order given under the provision in paragraph 2 of 
Article 13.  
 
Article 21  
 
Any person who violated the provision in Article 2 shall be liable to an administrative fine not 
exceeding ¥50,000.  
 
 
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