This State Department web site is a permanent electronic archive of information released prior to January 20, 2001. Please see the current site for material released since that date. Contact us with any questions about finding information. The U.S. aviation industry is competitive and deserves the opportunity to compete in all international markets.
Civil aviation is among the most difficult issues in our bilateral economic relationship with Japan.
U.S. negotiators just completed a round of civil aviation negotiations with officials from Japan's Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The United States continues to have three fundamental objectives in these negotiations. First, we want to achieve a clear, clean and permanent resolution of disputes that have prevented our carriers from exercising their rights to serve the important and fast growing aviation markets beyond Japan. There must be a prompt resolution of the dispute over existing rights. Second, we want to negotiate substantial, up-front liberalization.