[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 22 (Thursday, March 3, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              UNITED STATES-JAPAN CELLULAR TELEPHONE TRADE

  Mr. BROWN. Madam President, I rise to commend the President of the 
United States on his firm action on cellular telephone trade with 
Japan. This Nation and Japan are good friends. We are not only friends 
but allies. That relationship is based on great respect for the 
Japanese people and admiration for their hard work and their commitment 
to excellence. That mutual respect has seen us grow together as 
countries for the last four decades. Our two countries see much of the 
world in eye-to-eye fashion and have worked together for world peace 
and economic progress globally. Nonetheless, we also have differences.
  One of those differences relates to a United States trade deficit 
with Japan of $59 billion. Part of that, let us acknowledge, is the 
result of the excellent efficiency and high quality products produced 
by Japanese workers. But it also is a reflection of unfair and 
unbalanced trade rules. The simple fact, Madam President, is that 
currently Japan has closed their market in many ways and erected many 
nontariff and tariff barriers that do not exist against Japanese 
products entering the United States.
  The reality is quite clear. They have chosen to sell into our market 
which has very few restrictions, if any, and have chosen also to leave 
very tough restrictions against American products in a number of areas.
  In 1989, this country and Japan reached an agreement on cellular 
phones. It was one that was meant to address a small piece of that 
imbalance by expanding United States opportunities to sell cellular 
phones in Japan.
  That agreement has been violated in the opinion of the 
administration. Resolution of that difference has been the focus of our 
recent negotiations with Japan. It is unfortunate for both sides that 
they were unable to reach an agreement.
  I wish to commend the President of the United States for not agreeing 
to a faulty solution. His willingness to stand up, to insist that the 
Japanese must live by their agreement should be applauded by all 
Americans, whether Democrat or Republican.
  The simple fact is this country's leadership has not been willing to 
insist on equal access to the Japanese market. The President's steps, 
although small and dealing only with a portion of the total market are 
to be applauded and deserve very strong bipartisan support.
  It is reported also, Madam President, that this morning the President 
of the United States is considering reinstituting by Executive order a 
provision of our law called Super 301. The 301 provisions dealt with 
specific sectors in which trade is unbalanced. The Super 301 provisions 
gave us additional powers to deal with countries that erected a wide 
range of major barriers to our products.
  Madam President, I support the President's efforts to reinstitute 
Super 301. It is the minimum that we ought to be doing to address the 
problems. I wish to assure the President of the United States when he 
acts to reassert Super 301 that he will have strong Republican support 
for an effort to make sure our friends around the world trade fairly 
with the United States.
  Ultimately, a good arrangement and a good friendship with Japan must 
be based on mutual respect and mutual access. The idea that the United 
States should remain a pushover forever is simply illogical. A sound 
relationship with Japan can only be based on mutual trade and mutual 
market access. For the United States, acting like a rug while other 
nations walk all over us is simply foolish. In the long range, such a 
policy will not develop better, stronger relations with our friends. If 
we stand up for American industry and American workers by insisting on 
fair and equal access to world markets, we will gain respect, not lose 
it.
  Is it going to be easy? No. But we must convince the Japanese and our 
other trading partners that the United States insists on fairness, 
insists on equal access, and that the days of the United States as a 
pushover in world trade negotiations are over.
  There are stories on the wire which suggest that Japan and South 
Korea and perhaps another country will object to our reinstituting 
Super 301. They may well make appeals to GATT or to the World Trade 
Organization, if we do institute Super 301. That is a little like a 
mugger complaining to the police when a victim objects to being beaten 
up. Other countries will make a mistake if they think the American 
people will not stand behind the President of the United States on 
these actions.
  For too long, we have been willing to live with unfair rules and 
unfair access. I for one want to assure this body and the President 
that if he acts today, he will have very strong bipartisan support that 
runs deep through the Senate, the House and through the entire Nation.
  Madam President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. WELLSTONE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota is recognized.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Thank you, Madam President.

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