[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 95 (Thursday, July 16, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8420-S8421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CALLING ON JAPAN TO MAINTAIN AN OPEN MARKET FOR SECTORS FACING MARKET 
                        ACCESS BARRIERS IN JAPAN

  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Finance 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Con. Res. 88, 
and further, that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 88) calling on Japan 
     to have an open, competitive market for consumer photographic 
     film and paper and other sectors facing market access 
     barriers in Japan.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the concurrent resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.


                           Amendment No. 3210

               (Purpose: To make clarifying amendments.)

  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for 
its immediate consideration.

[[Page S8421]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Missouri [Mr. Bond], for Mr. D'Amato, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 3210.

  The amendment is as follows:
       On page 3, line 7, strike ``implement'' and insert 
     ``support''.
       On page 3, line 13, insert ``paper and wood products,'' 
     after ``glass,''.
       On page 3, line 21, strike ``July 15, 1998'' and insert 
     ``December 15, 1998''.
       On page 4, strike lines 1 and 2, and insert: ``access to 
     Japanese markets for consumer photographic film and paper.''.
       In the preamble--
       (1) strike the ninth whereas clause; and
       (2) in the 11th whereas clause strike ``is committed to 
     promote'' and insert ``promotes''.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``A concurrent resolution 
     calling on Japan to have an open, competitive market for 
     consumer photographic film and paper and other sectors facing 
     market access barriers in Japan.'',

  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that amendment to 
the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the resolution, as amended, be 
agreed to, the amendment to the preamble be agreed to and the preamble, 
as amended, be agreed to, the title amendment and the title, as 
amended, 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 amendment (No. 3210) was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 88), as amended, was agreed 
to.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The Concurrent Resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 88

       Whereas the current financial crisis in Asia underscores 
     the fact that the health of the international economic system 
     depends on open, competitive markets;
       Whereas structural reform in Japan is critical to the 
     resolution of the Asian financial crisis;
       Whereas for many years the United States Trade 
     Representative has reported to Congress in the National Trade 
     Estimate on numerous barriers to entering and operating in 
     the Japanese market;
       Whereas Japan's restrictive policies deny opportunities to 
     United States companies and their workers seeking access to 
     Japanese markets;
       Whereas the United States Trade Representative has engaged 
     over the last several years in an intensive review of the 
     Japanese distribution system;
       Whereas on June 16, 1996, the United States Trade 
     Representative found that the Government of Japan created and 
     tolerated a market structure that impedes United States 
     exports of consumer photographic film and paper;
       Whereas the European Union has sought to remove these same 
     barriers to distribution that restrain European exports to 
     Japan;
       Whereas it is important that United States companies and 
     workers not be disadvantaged by other countries following 
     Japan's model of protecting its market through a closed 
     distribution system and other market access barriers;
       Whereas the Government of Japan has consistently stated 
     that it is committed to deregulation, transparency, 
     nondiscrimination, and open distribution systems accompanied 
     by vigorous enforcement of competition laws;
       Whereas the Government of Japan stated in recent 
     proceedings of the World Trade Organization on consumer 
     photographic film that it promotes distribution policies that 
     make the Japanese market more open to imports and to actively 
     discourage restrictive business practices; and
       Whereas fulfilling these public statements would benefit 
     both United States trade and Japanese consumers, 
     significantly raising the standard of living in Japan: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) calls upon the Government of Japan to live up to the 
     standards it has set for open competitive markets;
       (2) calls upon the Government of Japan to fully support the 
     representations that it made to a dispute settlement panel of 
     the World Trade Organization regarding deregulation, 
     transparency, nondiscrimination, open distribution systems, 
     and vigorous enforcement of competition laws with respect to 
     consumer photographic film and paper as well as other 
     sectors, such as autos and auto parts, glass, paper and wood 
     products, and telecommunications, that face similar market 
     access barriers in Japan;
       (3) urges the President, the United States Trade 
     Representative, and other appropriate officers of the 
     executive branch to exercise fully existing authority to 
     achieve these objectives; and
       (4) requests the President to report to Congress, not later 
     than December 15, 1998, and not less frequently than every 
     six months thereafter, regarding access to Japanese markets 
     for consumer photographic film and paper.

  The title was amended so as to read:
  ``A concurrent resolution calling on Japan to have an open, 
competitive market for consumer photographic film and paper and other 
sectors facing market access barriers in Japan.''

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