[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       MAINTAINING TRADE FAIRNESS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 1997

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the importance of 
maintaining trade fairness and how that fairness has been restricted in 
our trade relations with Japan.
  Some of you may know about the market access case the United States 
Government filed against the Government of Japan before the World Trade 
Organization concerning consumer film and photographic paper. Eastman 
Kodak Company has been routinely prevented from competing fairly in 
Japan by the Japanese Government, which has been protecting Fuji film, 
the domestic film manufacturer. For over 30 years, the Japanese 
Government has worked closely with Japanese business, using non-tariff 
barriers, unspoken agreements, and implicit understandings to keep 
foreign competition out of the Japanese market.
  This case has far-reaching and precedent-setting ramifications. Why? 
First, this case highlights the nature of our trade relationship with 
Japan, where trade fairness has been a recurring concern. Japan is 
America's second largest trade partner but maintains America's largest 
trade deficit, which is 43 percent of our total trade deficit. Second, 
this case centers around the future of the WTO as an effective forum to 
settle international trade conflicts.
  The ramifications of the photographic film and paper case before the 
WTO are immense. At stake is the future of free and open market access 
not just for film, but, for all companies looking to trade with Japan. 
I urge the administration to press the WTO to bring this complaint to a 
conclusion.

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