9 October 1997: Members of the US Congress have expressed concern about the enforcement of US-Japan trade agreements. Senator Brownback recently questioned former Speaker Foley on the 1995 agreement t…
9 October 1997: Members of the US Congress have expressed concern about the enforcement of US-Japan trade agreements. Senator Brownback recently questioned former Speaker Foley on the 1995 agreement to open Japan“s nearly US$5 billion flat glass market to foreign products. In addition, 26 Senators and 53 members of the House of Representatives have contacted President Clinton requesting Japan“s performance under the flat glass agreement be addressed “for the sake of our bilateral trade process.” In his 24 September remarks, Senator Brownback stated: “Our trade deficit with Japan has been a vexing issue for quite some time. In addition, many agreements that Japan purports to be implementing do not seem to be having any tangible impact on the ability of US businesses to crack open Japan“s markets. For example, in 1995 the US and Japan entered into an agreement on flat glass. That agreement, which is now more than halfway through its five-year term, has not increased the share of Japan“s flat glass market possessed by US companies from the paltry one percent that our companies have had for years,” he continued. Former Speaker Tom Foley responded: “I think we have to have further discussion with the Japanese government on how to improve the opportunities for flat glass manufacturers in the United States to have a better opportunity in the Japanese market.”