IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 236 

Recognizing the importance of the United States-Japan partnership and supporting the pursuit of closer trade ties between the United States and 

Japan. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 30, 2017 

Mr. SMITH of Nebraska (for himself, Mr. YOHO, Mr. TIBERI, Ms. JENKINS

of Kansas, Mr. BACON, Mr. BOST, Mr. GIBBS, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. 

MARSHALL, Mr. PAULSEN, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, and Mrs. WAGNER) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Ways and Means 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the importance of the United States-Japan partnership and supporting the pursuit of closer trade ties 

between the United States and Japan. 

Whereas the United States and Japan are allies with a tradition of working in close cooperation to support one another’s mutual interests; 

Whereas the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States of America and Japan, signed 

at Washington on January 19, 1960, which has fostered 

one of the most important and longest enduring military 

alliances, demonstrates the proclivity for strong bilateral 

agreements between our two nations; 


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Whereas Secretary of Defense James Mattis, on February 3, 

2017, reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to 

uphold the provisions of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States of America 

and Japan and stated that the United States will continue to stand ‘‘shoulder to shoulder’’ with the Japanese 

people; 

Whereas Japan is a key partner to the United States in ensuring regional stability throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including by— 

(1) countering the threat from North Korea’s illegal 

nuclear weapons program; 

(2) advancing maritime security initiatives; and 

(3) promoting economic security through continued 

development; 

Whereas Japan is the world’s third largest economy, the 

fourth largest trading partner of the United States, and 

the second largest foreign direct investor in the United 

States; 

Whereas expanding United States trade with Japan has the 

potential to benefit American businesses, farmers, ranchers, workers, and consumers; 

Whereas Japan already represents the fifth-largest market 

for agricultural products worldwide, amounting to almost 

$14 trillion in exports annually, and this amount could 

increase significantly with reduced trade barriers and a 

more open United States-Japan trade relationship; 

Whereas a strong and economically vibrant Japan is vital to 

the stability of the Asia-Pacific region, which is in the 

strategic interest of the United States; 


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Whereas the Joint Statement from President Trump and 

Prime Minister Abe, released on February 10, 2017, reaffirmed the importance of deepening trade and investment relations, which would ‘‘include discussions between 

the United States and Japan on a bilateral framework’’; 

Whereas the February 10, 2017, Joint Statement also 

‘‘pledged to explore how to best accomplish [the] shared 

objective’’ of ‘‘both deepening their trade and investment 

relations and of their continued efforts in promoting 

trade, economic growth, and high standards throughout 

the Asia-Pacific region’’; 

Whereas Japan shares the commitment of the United States 

to the promotion of free market and democratic principles in the Asia-Pacific region and worldwide; 

Whereas if the United States steps back from the Asia-Pacific region, other countries, such as the People’s Republic of China, which do not share our values, could fill the 

void; 

Whereas the American need for economic engagement in the 

Asia-Pacific region is underscored by China’s participation in the negotiation of the Regional Comprehensive 

Economic Partnership (RCEP) with 15 other countries 

in the region, including major United States trading 

partners such as Japan, but not the United States; and 

Whereas the voluntary exchange of goods and services among 

citizens of nations helps provide global economic stability, 

especially in times of economic uncertainty: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) calls upon the President to consult with the 

3 House of Representatives and the Senate in keeping 


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1 with the consultation requirements of the Bipartisan 

2 Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability 

3 Act of 2015 (title I of Public Law 114–26; 19 

4 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.) to consider opportunities to 

5 promote further economic and commercial activity 

6 and cooperation between the United States and 

7 Japan, including by way of a trade agreement be8 tween the United States and Japan; 

9 (2) calls upon the President to invite Japan to 

10 begin discussions toward establishing the basis for 

11 closer trade ties between the United States and 

12 Japan, in keeping with the consultation require13 ments of such Act; 

14 (3) recalls that section 103(d) of such Act (19 

15 U.S.C. 4202(d)) directs the President to commence 

16 negotiations covering tariff and nontariff barriers to 

17 United States trade where the President determines 

18 that such negotiations are feasible and timely and 

19 would benefit the United States; 

20 (4) recalls further that section 102 of such Act 

21 (19 U.S.C. 4201) sets forth the trade negotiating 

22 objectives of the United States and further expects 

23 that these congressionally mandated negotiating ob24 jectives will be achieved in any trade agreement be25 tween the United States and Japan; and 


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1 (5) urges the President, throughout discussions 

2 with Japan and in close consultation with the House 

3 of Representatives and the Senate, to determine 

4 whether negotiation of a trade agreement with 

5 Japan would be likely to achieve the negotiating ob6 jectives established by such Act and, if such negotia7 tion would be likely to achieve such objectives, to 

8 commence negotiations toward a trade agreement 

9 with Japan as soon as appropriate. 

Æ 


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