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 mar-
ket 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, competi-
tive 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 Represent-
ative has reported to the Congress in the National Trade
Estimate on numerous barriers to entering and operating
in the Japanese market;
•HCON 233 IH
Whereas Japan’s restrictive policies deny opportunities to
United States companies and their workers seeking ac-
cess 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 Rep-
resentative 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 ex-
ports to Japan;
Whereas it is important that United States companies and
workers not be disadvantaged by other countries follow-
ing Japan’s model of protecting its market through a
closed distribution system and other market access bar-
riers;
Whereas a recent panel of the World Trade Organization
failed to address the closed distribution system and mar-
ket access barriers in Japan;
Whereas the Government of Japan has consistently stated
that it is committed to deregulation, transparency, non-
discrimination, and open distribution systems accom-
panied by vigorous enforcement of competition laws;
Whereas the Government of Japan stated in recent proceed-
ings of the World Trade Organization on consumer pho-
tographic film that it is committed to promote distribu-
tion policies that make the Japanese market more open
to imports and to actively discourage restrictive business
practices; and
•HCON 233 IH
Whereas fulfilling these public statements would benefit both
United States trade and Japanese consumers, signifi-
cantly raising the standard of living in Japan: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) calls upon the Government of Japan to live
up to the standards it has set for open competitive
markets;
(2) calls upon the Government of Japan to fully
implement the representations that it made to a dis-
pute settlement panel of the World Trade Organiza-
tion regarding deregulation, transparency, non-
discrimination, open distribution systems, and vigor-
ous enforcement of competition laws with respect to
consumer photographic film and paper as well as
other sectors, such as autos and auto parts, glass,
and telecommunications, that face similar market
access barriers in Japan;
(3) urges the President, the United States
Trade Representative, and other appropriate officers
of the executive branch to exercise fully existing au-
thority to achieve these objectives; and
(4) requests the President to report to the Con-
gress, not later than July 15, 1998, and not less fre-
quently than every six months thereafter, regarding
•HCON 233 IH
progress in eliminating market restrictions in Japan
for consumer photographic film and paper.
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