[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28779]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 22, 1994]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

 

Request for Public Comment: Deregulation Measures in Japan

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for written comments regarding deregulation measures in 
Japan.

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SUMMARY: The Government of Japan currently is in the process of 
preparing a five-year plan for deregulation measures in Japan, which it 
expects to finalize by the end of March, 1995. The United States 
Government has provided the Government of Japan with an initial list of 
comments and specific suggestions regarding the deregulation plan, and 
the United States Government intends to consult with the Government of 
Japan in various fora regarding the preparation and implementation of 
the plan and other deregulation issues. USTR solicits comments from 
interested parties regarding specific laws, regulations, or regulatory 
practices in Japan, the removal or modification of which would improve 
market access for United States products or services.

DATES: Comments are due on or before noon on December 21, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20506.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ira Wolf, Assistant United States Trade Representative, (202) 395-3900, 
or James Southwick, Assistant General Counsel, (202) 395-7203.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the course of the past year, the United 
States has held three rounds of consultations with Japan addressing 
deregulation and competition policy issues in a working group 
established under the Joint Statement on the United States-Japan 
Framework for a New Economic Partnership (the ``Framework''). In these 
consultations, the United States has proposed specific regulatory 
changes by the Government of Japan as well as more general changes in 
regulatory practices, administrative procedures, and competition policy 
enforcement. In addition, in other contexts the United States has held 
other consultations with Japan addressing deregulation issues in 
particular sectors or with respect to particular structural issues.
    In March and June, 1994, Japan announced specific, initial 
deregulatory measures that it would take in the areas of housing 
construction; information and telecommunications; import promotion, 
market access, and distribution; and finance, securities, and 
insurance. The Government of Japan currently is in the process of 
preparing a five-year plan to follow up on these initial measures.
    The Government of Japan invited interested foreign governments to 
submit specific deregulation requests and comments to be taken into 
consideration in preparing its five-year plan. On October 27, the 
European Union submitted a list of deregulation requests.
    In response to the Government of Japan's invitation, the United 
States Government, under the coordination of the Office of the United 
States Trade Representative, prepared and presented to the Government 
of Japan, on November 15, 1994, an initial list of deregulation 
requests and comments for consideration in connection with Japan's 
five-year deregulation plan. The list was based on information gathered 
in the preparation of the annual National Trade Estimates Report 
(required by section 181(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 
U.S.C. 2241)), information brought to the attention of various agencies 
of the United States Government by U.S. industry, and information 
gathered by the United States Government. The list is available for 
public inspection and copying in the USTR Reading Room: Room 101, 
Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20506. An appointment to review the list may be made by 
calling Brenda Webb (202) 395-6186. The USTR Reading Room is open to 
the public from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday.
    The United States Government intends to consult with the Government 
of Japan in various fora regarding the issues in the list and regarding 
the preparation and implementation of the five-year plan. The United 
States Government intends to submit to Japan, as appropriate, 
additional requests or comments regarding the action plan and other 
deregulation issues.

Request for Public Comment

    Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
specific laws, regulations, or regulatory practices in Japan, the 
removal or modification of which would improve market access for United 
States products or services. Comments need not be limited to the 
sectors covered by the deregulation measures identified by Japan in 
March and June, 1994, but may address any sector. Comments should 
identify and explain the laws, regulations, and regulatory practices in 
sufficient detail to allow a full understanding of the regulatory 
issues and market access concerns.
    In addition to comments regarding specific laws, regulations, or 
regulatory practices, USTR is interested in receiving comments from 
interested persons regarding regulatory processes and procedures, for 
example regarding transparency or review of administrative actions, 
which affect market access.
    Comments are due no later than noon on December 21, 1994. Comments 
must be in English and provided in twenty copies to: Office of Japan 
and China Affairs, Attn: Japan Deregulation Issues, Room 322, USTR, 600 
17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20506.
    Comments will be placed in a file open to public inspection, except 
confidential business information. Parties requesting that confidential 
business information they submit be exempt from disclosure must mark 
the confidential business information in the same manner as described 
in 15 CFR 2006.15(b), i.e., it must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS 
CONFIDENTIAL'' in contrasting color ink at the top of each page on each 
of 20 copies, and must be accompanied by a nonconfidential summary of 
the confidential information. The nonconfidential summary will be 
placed in the file that is open to public inspection.
Ira Wolf,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Japan and China 
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-28779 Filed 11-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M