Produced an APEC Blueprint for Action on Electronic Commerce . In June 1998, the Ministry of Construction enacted legislation which will substantially move the Building Standards Law towards a performance-based system. As requested by Canadian exporters, MAFF began the process of revising the JAS structural plywood standard to accommodate softwood veneers in Class 1 plywood and to accommodate the shift to performance-based standards. An employee of the Japanese Ministry of Construction was assigned to Canada to participate in the evaluation and development of new standards that can be applied in Japan, resulting in improved and faster access of Canadian building products to the Japanese market. Japan offered to facilitate approval for the use of Canadian nails in the construction of prefabricated buildings for shipment to Japan, provided Canada demonstrates that its nail manufacturers meet Japan Industrial Standards or produces equivalent strength data.
Progress is anticipated in approval of a similar application for oriented-strand board.
Japanese investor and policy holder insurance schemes in both the securities and life insurance sectors have been adjusted to protect foreign financial institutions, who wish to enter the Japanese market, against past liabilities arising from the current difficulties in Japan's domestic financial sector. The Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare approved four more transgenic varieties of Canadian canola, in addition to the six varieties already approved in 1996 and 1997. Canadian exports of distilled spirits have more than doubled. The increase follows the introduction of lower tariffs and excise taxes as a result of Japan's obligations stemming from the WTO panel on its liquor-tax regime. In March 1998, Korea removed restrictive labelling requirements for ozonated bottled water.