[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                     TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH JAPAN

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, although the administration declared victory 
in the 15-month trade negotiations with Japan, I am afraid there is far 
less here than meets the eye. Naturally, one would expect U.S. 
negotiators to hail any agreement as a landmark achievement that 
fulfills every negotiating objective. Unfortunately, the only real 
achievement was that Japan dodged another bullet.
  I take no issue with Ambassador Kantor's efforts on this matter. I 
believe he performed as well as possible under extremely difficult 
circumstances. A large part of the difficulty was the seemingly 
complete absence of a clear and unwavering strategy on the part of the 
administration to deal with the serious, long-running problem of 
Japan's closed markets.
  Instead, the world watched and was treated to a 15-month exercise in 
rhetoric, posturing, grand predictions and overreaching, occasionally 
punctuated by false deadlines, jittery markets and needless 
brinkmanship. The tremors that shook the financial markets in February 
of this year were a harrowing experience that seemed to startle the 
administration about the real and dangerous consequences of a cavalier 
approach. So finally, to nearly universal relief, the administration 
decided to ring down the curtain, declare victory and go home.
  After all the pomp and ceremony, the administration will take only 
minimal action: A section 301 investigation will begin of the Japanese 
``aftermarket'' for auto parts. Otherwise, the agreements reached in 
the other sectors--government procurement, insurance and flat glass--
are notable only because they lack the essential ingredient of any 
deal: A way of measuring progress. The Japanese completely rejected any 
numerical measurement or target of any kind, and they completely 
prevailed. The administration now denies ever seeking numerical 
targets.
  Mr. President, whether or not one believes that numerical targets in 
trade agreements are effective, one thing is certain: United States and 
Japanese negotiators will be back at the table a year from now in deep 
disagreement over the fulfillment of the terms of the deal. The section 
301 case on auto parts could last as long as 18 months, after which 
sanctions are possible.
  So as the press conferences announcing this tremendous success come 
to an end, and the microphones are unscrewed from the podiums, and the 
video cable is rolled up and the negotiators wearily leave the stage 
and head home, one is left with a familiar feeling: once again, Japan 
has bought time.
  In view of the nearly two decades of U.S. efforts to open up Japanese 
markets and the continuing trade deficit with Japan projected to reach 
$60 billion this year, the feeble agreements reached last weekend seem 
designed to ensure further repetition of an exceedingly tiresome 
pattern.

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