IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 236 
Recognizing the importance of the United States-Japan partnership and sup-
porting the pursuit of closer trade ties between the United States and 
Japan. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 30, 2017 
Mr. SMITH of Nebraska (for himself, Mr. YOHO, Mr. TIBERI, Ms. JENKINS 
of Kansas, Mr. BACON, Mr. BOST, Mr. GIBBS, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. 
MARSHALL, Mr. PAULSEN, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, and Mrs. WAGNER) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Ways and Means 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the importance of the United States-Japan part-
nership and supporting the pursuit of closer trade ties 
between the United States and Japan. 
Whereas the United States and Japan are allies with a tradi-
tion of working in close cooperation to support one an-
other’s mutual interests; 
Whereas the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security be-
tween the United States of America and Japan, signed 
at Washington on January 19, 1960, which has fostered 
one of the most important and longest enduring military 
alliances, demonstrates the proclivity for strong bilateral 
agreements between our two nations; 
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Whereas Secretary of Defense James Mattis, on February 3, 
2017, reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to 
uphold the provisions of the Treaty of Mutual Coopera-
tion and Security between the United States of America 
and Japan and stated that the United States will con-
tinue to stand ‘‘shoulder to shoulder’’ with the Japanese 
people; 
Whereas Japan is a key partner to the United States in en-
suring regional stability throughout the Asia-Pacific re-
gion, including by— 
(1) countering the threat from North Korea’s illegal 
nuclear weapons program; 
(2) advancing maritime security initiatives; and 
(3) promoting economic security through continued 
development; 
Whereas Japan is the world’s third largest economy, the 
fourth largest trading partner of the United States, and 
the second largest foreign direct investor in the United 
States; 
Whereas expanding United States trade with Japan has the 
potential to benefit American businesses, farmers, ranch-
ers, workers, and consumers; 
Whereas Japan already represents the fifth-largest market 
for agricultural products worldwide, amounting to almost 
$14 trillion in exports annually, and this amount could 
increase significantly with reduced trade barriers and a 
more open United States-Japan trade relationship; 
Whereas a strong and economically vibrant Japan is vital to 
the stability of the Asia-Pacific region, which is in the 
strategic interest of the United States; 
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Whereas the Joint Statement from President Trump and 
Prime Minister Abe, released on February 10, 2017, re-
affirmed the importance of deepening trade and invest-
ment relations, which would ‘‘include discussions between 
the United States and Japan on a bilateral framework’’; 
Whereas the February 10, 2017, Joint Statement also 
‘‘pledged to explore how to best accomplish [the] shared 
objective’’ of ‘‘both deepening their trade and investment 
relations and of their continued efforts in promoting 
trade, economic growth, and high standards throughout 
the Asia-Pacific region’’; 
Whereas Japan shares the commitment of the United States 
to the promotion of free market and democratic prin-
ciples in the Asia-Pacific region and worldwide; 
Whereas if the United States steps back from the Asia-Pa-
cific region, other countries, such as the People’s Repub-
lic of China, which do not share our values, could fill the 
void; 
Whereas the American need for economic engagement in the 
Asia-Pacific region is underscored by China’s participa-
tion in the negotiation of the Regional Comprehensive 
Economic Partnership (RCEP) with 15 other countries 
in the region, including major United States trading 
partners such as Japan, but not the United States; and 
Whereas the voluntary exchange of goods and services among 
citizens of nations helps provide global economic stability, 
especially in times of economic uncertainty: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) calls upon the President to consult with the 
House of Representatives and the Senate in keeping 
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with the consultation requirements of the Bipartisan 
Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability 
Act of 2015 (title I of Public Law 114–26; 19 
U.S.C. 4201 et seq.) to consider opportunities to 
promote further economic and commercial activity 
and cooperation between the United States and 
Japan, including by way of a trade agreement be-
tween the United States and Japan; 
(2) calls upon the President to invite Japan to 
begin discussions toward establishing the basis for 
closer trade ties between the United States and 
Japan, in keeping with the consultation require-
ments of such Act; 
(3) recalls that section 103(d) of such Act (19 
U.S.C. 4202(d)) directs the President to commence 
negotiations covering tariff and nontariff barriers to 
United States trade where the President determines 
that such negotiations are feasible and timely and 
would benefit the United States; 
(4) recalls further that section 102 of such Act 
(19 U.S.C. 4201) sets forth the trade negotiating 
objectives of the United States and further expects 
that these congressionally mandated negotiating ob-
jectives will be achieved in any trade agreement be-
tween the United States and Japan; and 
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(5) urges the President, throughout discussions 
with Japan and in close consultation with the House 
of Representatives and the Senate, to determine 
whether negotiation of a trade agreement with 
Japan would be likely to achieve the negotiating ob-
jectives established by such Act and, if such negotia-
tion would be likely to achieve such objectives, to 
commence negotiations toward a trade agreement 
with Japan as soon as appropriate. 
Æ 
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