March 5, 2011
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has requested that Japan ease regulations on 70 market items.
The USTR made the request at the first working-level meeting of the U.S.-Japan Economic Harmonization Initiative (EHI), held in Tokyo from February 28 to March 4. It was attended by representatives of the USTR and Japan’s Foreign Ministry.
As Prime Minister Kan Naoto tries to promote Japan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, the U.S. government is increasing its call for a further deregulation in Japan’s markets in order to promote U.S. corporations’ interests.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Japan, the request covers 10 market sectors, including information and communication technologies, intellectual property rights, postal services, insurance, agriculture-related measures, and medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
In agriculture-related issues, the USTR stated that bilateral discussions related to pesticide residues and the use of chemical pesticides “should include reference to relevant international standards and practices” rather than having Japan maintain its own stricter standards.
The U.S. side listed more than 20 requests for deregulation in the field of medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The items include “the early introduction of innovative drugs into Japan” by accepting “clinical trial data from East Asian countries.”
It demanded the complete elimination of “competitive advantages for Japan Post,” as well as urged Japan to further allow foreign private firms to enter its finance, insurance, and international postal markets.
The launch of the EHI was decided at a summit meeting between Prime Minister Kan Naoto and U.S. President Barack Obama in November last year. Representatives of both governments will hold meetings two or three times a year and release the outcome.
The USTR made the request at the first working-level meeting of the U.S.-Japan Economic Harmonization Initiative (EHI), held in Tokyo from February 28 to March 4. It was attended by representatives of the USTR and Japan’s Foreign Ministry.
As Prime Minister Kan Naoto tries to promote Japan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, the U.S. government is increasing its call for a further deregulation in Japan’s markets in order to promote U.S. corporations’ interests.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Japan, the request covers 10 market sectors, including information and communication technologies, intellectual property rights, postal services, insurance, agriculture-related measures, and medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
In agriculture-related issues, the USTR stated that bilateral discussions related to pesticide residues and the use of chemical pesticides “should include reference to relevant international standards and practices” rather than having Japan maintain its own stricter standards.
The U.S. side listed more than 20 requests for deregulation in the field of medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The items include “the early introduction of innovative drugs into Japan” by accepting “clinical trial data from East Asian countries.”
It demanded the complete elimination of “competitive advantages for Japan Post,” as well as urged Japan to further allow foreign private firms to enter its finance, insurance, and international postal markets.
The launch of the EHI was decided at a summit meeting between Prime Minister Kan Naoto and U.S. President Barack Obama in November last year. Representatives of both governments will hold meetings two or three times a year and release the outcome.
