[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S6358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 SENATE RESOLUTION 118--CONCERNING UNITED STATES-JAPAN TRADE RELATIONS

  Mr. BYRD (for himself, Mr. Dole, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Reid, 
Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. Warner, Mr. Levin, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Pressler, Mr. 
Dorgan, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Specter, Mr. Brown, and Mr. D'Amato) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 118

       Whereas, the United States and Japan have a long and 
     important relationship which serves as an anchor of peace and 
     stability in the Pacific region;
       Whereas, tension exists in an otherwise normal and friendly 
     relationship between the United States and Japan because of 
     persistent and large trade deficits which are the result of 
     practices and regulations which have substantially blocked 
     legitimate access of American automotive products to the 
     Japanese market;
       Whereas, the current account trade deficit with Japan in 
     1994 reached an historic high level of $66 billion, of which 
     $37 billion, or 56 percent, is attributed to imbalances in 
     automotive sector, and of which $12.8 billion is attributable 
     to auto parts flows;
       Whereas, in July, 1993, the Administration reached a broad 
     accord with the Government of Japan, which established 
     automotive trade as one of 5 priority areas for negotiations, 
     to seek market-opening arrangements based on objective 
     criteria and which would result in objective progress;
       Whereas, a healthy American automobile industry is of 
     central importance to the American economy, and to the 
     capability of the United States to fulfill its commitments to 
     remain as an engaged, deployed, Pacific power;
       Whereas, after 18 months of negotiations with the Japanese, 
     beginning in September 1993, the U.S. Trade Representative 
     concluded that no progress had been achieved, leaving the 
     auto parts market in Japan ``virtually closed'';
       Whereas, in October, 1994, the United States initiated an 
     investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 into 
     the Japanese auto parts market, which could result in the 
     imposition of trade sanctions on a variety of Japanese 
     imports into the United States unless measurable progress is 
     made in penetrating the Japanese auto parts market;
       Whereas, the latest round of U.S.-Japan negotiations on 
     automotive trade, in Whistler, Canada, collapsed in failure 
     on May 5, 1995, and the U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador 
     Kantor, stated the ``government of Japan has refused to 
     address our most fundamental concerns in all areas'' of 
     automotive trade, and that ``discrimination against foreign 
     manufacturers of autos and auto parts continues.''
       Whereas, President Clinton stated, on May 5, 1995, that the 
     U.S. is ``committed to taking strong action'' regarding 
     Japanese imports into the U.S. if no agreement is reached.
       Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the Sense of the Senate that--
       (1) The Senate regrets that negotiations between the United 
     States and Japan for sharp reductions in the trade imbalances 
     in automotive sales and parts, through elimination of 
     restrictive Japanese market-closing practices and 
     regulations, have collapsed;
       (2) If negotiations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 
     1974 fail to open the Japanese auto parts market, the United 
     States Senate strongly supports the decision by the President 
     to impose sanctions on Japanese products in accordance with 
     Section 301.
     

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