The United States and Japan have seen “important progress” on a
range of trade and regulatory issues, as well as on new areas of joint cooperation,
that should expand trade opportunities for producers and consumers in both countries.
“I welcome the progress we have made through the US-Japan Economic Harmonization
Initiative (EHI), which expands job-supporting business and export opportunities
for American entrepreneurs, workers, manufacturers, and service providers,”
said the US Trade Representative, Ron Kirk. “Addressing issues of concern
and working closely together to advance new areas of cooperation will further
deepen our relationship with Japan – a strong ally and our fourth largest
export market.”
Through engagement under the EHI, Japan is said to have improved the business
environment and expanded access for a broad range of US goods and services.
These areas include intellectual property protection, automobiles, information
and communication technology services and products, medical devices, pharmaceuticals,
agricultural products and distribution services.
For example, the two countries have agreed on a set of non-binding trade principles
for information and communication technology (ICT) services, and will promote
wide adoption of these principles by other countries to support the global development
of ICT services. These include internet and other network-based applications
that are critical to e-commerce, internet search and advertising and cloud computing.
In addition, concrete progress has been achieved, since EHI talks began in
February 2011, in improving Japanese transparency and predictability for the
import of automobiles that incorporate new, advanced technologies and features
not covered by existing regulations; enabling new market entry for American
companies offering internet-enabled video services; and enhancing the ability
of intellectual property right holders to defend their products and services
from unauthorized use through technological measures, such as copy and access
controls.
Japan has also revised its rules to increase the speed, transparency, and predictability
of anti-monopoly merger reviews, bringing its process into closer alignment
with global best practices.
The discussions between the two countries were also timely given the Japanese government’s recent announcement that it is seeking accession
to the US-led proposed extension of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
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