[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 233 Introduced in House (IH)]







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 
                    market 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, competitive 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 Representative has reported to 
        the Congress in the National Trade Estimate on numerous barriers to 
        entering and operating in the Japanese market;
Whereas Japan's restrictive policies deny opportunities to United States 
        companies and their workers seeking access 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 Representative 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 exports to Japan;
Whereas it is important that United States companies and workers not be 
        disadvantaged by other countries following Japan's model of protecting 
        its market through a closed distribution system and other market access 
        barriers;
Whereas a recent panel of the World Trade Organization failed to address the 
        closed distribution system and market access barriers in Japan;
Whereas the Government of Japan has consistently stated that it is committed to 
        deregulation, transparency, nondiscrimination, and open distribution 
        systems accompanied by vigorous enforcement of competition laws;
Whereas the Government of Japan stated in recent proceedings of the World Trade 
        Organization on consumer photographic film that it is committed to 
        promote distribution policies that make the Japanese market more open to 
        imports and to actively discourage restrictive business practices; and
Whereas fulfilling these public statements would benefit both United States 
        trade and Japanese consumers, significantly 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 dispute settlement panel 
        of the World Trade Organization regarding deregulation, 
        transparency, nondiscrimination, open distribution systems, and 
        vigorous 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 authority to achieve these 
        objectives; and
            (4) requests the President to report to the Congress, not 
        later than July 15, 1998, and not less frequently than every 
        six months thereafter, regarding progress in eliminating market 
        restrictions in Japan for consumer photographic film and paper.
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