IV

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 233

Calling on Japan to establish and maintain an open, competitive market

for consumer photographic film and paper and other sectors facing market access barriers in Japan.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 4, 1998

Mr. HOUGHTON (for himself, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Mrs.

JOHNSON of Connecticut, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. LEACH, Mr. BLUMENAUER,

Mr. DAVIS of Florida, Mr. HALL of Texas, and Mr. MORAN of Virginia)

submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on Ways and Means

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Calling on Japan to establish and maintain an open, competitive market for consumer photographic film and paper

and other sectors facing market access barriers in Japan.

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 resolution

of the Asian financial crisis;

Whereas for many years the United States Trade Representative has reported to the Congress in the National Trade

Estimate on numerous barriers to entering and operating

in the Japanese market;
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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 a recent panel of the World Trade Organization

failed to address the closed distribution system and market access barriers in Japan;

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 is committed to promote distribution policies that make the Japanese market more open

to imports and to actively discourage restrictive business

practices; and
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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

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

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 implement 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 and telecommunications, that face similar market

15 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 the Con21 gress, not later than July 15, 1998, and not less fre22 quently than every six months thereafter, regarding
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•HCON 233 IH

1 progress in eliminating market restrictions in Japan

2 for consumer photographic film and paper.

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