3 June 1999: The US disagrees with a recent finding by Japan“s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) which says the Japanese flat glass market is open to foreign competitors, a top US trade official said recen…
3 June 1999: The US disagrees with a recent finding by Japan“s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) which says the Japanese flat glass market is open to foreign competitors, a top US trade official said recently. Deputy US Trade Representative Richard Fisher said that the US believes “there is a lack of ability for not just the United States, but other foreign glass manufacturers to enter the Japanese market.” The report raises questions as to why foreign makers are not able to penetrate the Japanese market, given success in “every other market in the world,” Fisher said. The FTC report said the commission“s conclusion is based on a study conducted over the past year on flat glass used in Japan“s construction industry. The study covered three domestic makers, about 330 wholesalers and other distributors and 30 large-lot customers. The US government lists the Japanese flat glass market as one of seven sectors “of serious concern” to be monitored under the US Super 301 trade provision.