This is what we are doing and what we are planning to do in the future. Yesterday, the US Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Foley said that the United States is concerned about the Japanese plan of enforcing the tariff on imported rice until next year. Also the United States is requesting consultations with the Japanese Government over this issue. The Foreign Ministry actually received this. We are used to having such consultations when important decisions take place.
Rice is a very important topic.
Therefore, we understand that the United States wants to have such an occasion to consult with Japan at an early time. We have already explained to the United States what we are presently doing, especially regarding what kinds of analyses and examinations are occurring concerning the present agricultural agreement. As for the nature of the consultation, we think that the decision concerning the tariff on rice can be taken without any prior legal consultation or agreement with any other contracting parties of the agricultural agreement. Therefore, we think this is just to facilitate the smooth and friendly relations between the United States and Japan, and to avoid any confusion and misunderstandings. Thus, we wished to explain what is going on in Japan at this time.