IV

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 88

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 17, 1998

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Calling on Japan to have an open, competitive market for

consumer photographic film and paper and other sectors

facing market access barriers in Japan.

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives

2 concurring),

Whereas the current financial crisis in Asia underscores the

fact that the health of the international economic system

depends on open, competitive markets;

Whereas structural reform in Japan is critical to the resolution of the Asian financial crisis;

Whereas for many years the United States Trade Representative has reported to Congress in the National Trade Estimate on numerous barriers to entering and operating in

the Japanese market;
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SCON 88 RFH

Whereas Japan’s restrictive policies deny opportunities to

United States companies and their workers seeking access to Japanese markets;

Whereas the United States Trade Representative has engaged

over the last several years in an intensive review of the

Japanese distribution system;

Whereas on June 16, 1996, the United States Trade Representative found that the Government of Japan created

and tolerated a market structure that impedes United

States exports of consumer photographic film and paper;

Whereas the European Union has sought to remove these

same barriers to distribution that restrain European exports to Japan;

Whereas it is important that United States companies and

workers not be disadvantaged by other countries following Japan’s model of protecting its market through a

closed distribution system and other market access barriers;

Whereas the Government of Japan has consistently stated

that it is committed to deregulation, transparency, nondiscrimination, and open distribution systems accompanied by vigorous enforcement of competition laws;

Whereas the Government of Japan stated in recent proceedings of the World Trade Organization on consumer photographic film that it promotes distribution policies that

make the Japanese market more open to imports and to

actively discourage restrictive business practices; and

Whereas fulfilling these public statements would benefit both

United States trade and Japanese consumers, significantly raising the standard of living in Japan: Now,

therefore, be it
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1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives

2 concurring), That the Congress—

3 (1) calls upon the Government of Japan to live

4 up to the standards it has set for open competitive

5 markets;

6 (2) calls upon the Government of Japan to fully

7 support the representations that it made to a dis8 pute settlement panel of the World Trade Organiza9 tion regarding deregulation, transparency, non10 discrimination, open distribution systems, and vigor11 ous enforcement of competition laws with respect to

12 consumer photographic film and paper as well as

13 other sectors, such as autos and auto parts, glass,

14 paper and wood products, and telecommunications,

15 that face similar market access barriers in Japan;

16 (3) urges the President, the United States

17 Trade Representative, and other appropriate officers

18 of the executive branch to exercise fully existing au19 thority to achieve these objectives; and

20 (4) requests the President to report to Con21 gress, not later than December 15, 1998, and not

22 less frequently than every six months thereafter, re-
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1 garding access to Japanese markets for consumer

2 photographic film and paper.

Passed the Senate July 16, 1998.

Attest:

Gary Sisco,

Secretary.