[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 146 (Monday, October 27, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11242]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORTING THE PRESIDENT'S ACTION TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATORY TRADE 
         PRACTICES BY JAPAN RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

  Mr. ENZI. I ask unanimous consent the Commerce Committee be 
discharged from further consideration of Senate Resolution 140 and the 
Senate proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 140) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate in support of the President's action to eliminate 
     discriminatory trade practices by Japan relating to 
     international shipping.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the resolution 
appear at this point in the Record
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 140) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 140

       Whereas restrictive and discriminatory Japanese port 
     practices have been a significant source of international 
     concern for many years, have increased the cost of 
     transporting goods to and from Japan for American consumers, 
     and all ocean carriers and their customers, and have 
     restricted United States carriers' operations in Japan while 
     Japanese carriers have not faced similar restrictions in the 
     United States;
       Whereas for many years the Federal Maritime Commission, and 
     the United States Departments of State and Transportation, 
     have investigated and monitored these practices and urged the 
     Japanese Government to remedy the problems caused by these 
     restrictions; and
       Whereas recent actions by the Federal Maritime Commission 
     and negotiations conducted by the Departments of State and 
     Transportation with the Government of Japan have reportedly 
     produced agreements which would, when implemented, reform the 
     Japanese port practices and remedy these problems: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate expresses strong support for--
       (1) the efforts of the President and executive branch to 
     achieve removal of Japanese port restrictions, and
       (2) vigilant, continued monitoring and enforcement by the 
     Federal Maritime Commission of changes in port practices 
     promised by the Japanese Government that will benefit 
     international trade.

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