Philippines Meetings

Informal Meetings of Ministers and the Japanese Foreign Minister's Bilateral Meetings

	Speaker :	Mr. Hiroshi Hashimoto
	Title :	Spokesperson for the Prime Minister of Japan
	Date:	21 November 1996
	Time :	23:00 -- 23:30
	Location :	Meeting Room 6 (Second Floor, PICC) Manila, Republic of the Philippines

Press Conference

21 November 1996

Opening Statement
Japan-Republic of the Philippines discussions on the Information Technology Agreement
Discussion at the SOM regarding the membership issue
Japan-U.S. relations and Japan's relations with Asia-Pacific developing economies vis-vis APEC
Insurance-related issues among APEC members
Japan's policy on liberalization of trade and investment
Support for membership of Viet Nam and Peru to APEC

Opening Statement
Spokesperson for the Prime Minister of Japan Hiroshi Hashimoto: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. The Informal Meeting of Ministers, as you know, is already over. After that, the Senior Officials have decided to meet. Unfortunately, because of that, I am not able to debrief you on what the Ministers talked about at the Informal Meeting. Instead, I would like to explain to you briefly the Individual Action Plan of Japan, and after that, my colleague will brief you on several bilateral meetings of Mr. Ikeda.

First of all, I would like to announce to you that tomorrow at 14:00, when I have a chance to brief you on the morning session of the Ministerial Meeting, simultaneously, we will release Japan's Individual Action Plan. At the same time, we will explain to you the highlight of the Plan. Unfortunately, tonight, we cannot brief you deeply on Japan's Individual Action Plan; however, I would like to tell you roughly what will be the content of the Individual Action Plan.

I think you recall that Japan issued the so-called "Initial Actions" at the last APEC Meeting in Osaka, and we announced several measures in relation with the tariff reductions. This year, Japan's Individual Action Plan includes some measures which I will explain to you now. One is related to, probably I can say, facilitation of cross-border flow of people, goods and services. We have Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS), Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) and technical regulations under the Electrical Appliance and Material Control Law. Businesspeople often say that those Japanese standards and regulations should be more and more aligned with the international standards. And Japan's Individual Action Plan includes something concrete on this question. There are already several foreign testing organizations which provide test data for the Japanese Agricultural Standards grading procedures. Again, businesspeople have been requesting the increase of the number of the foreign testing organizations, and Japan's Individual Action Plan also includes something new on this issue. According to the present Household Goods Quality Labeling Law, it is required to label in Japanese. But, as far as the fabric material of textile products is concerned, labels can be printed in English. I think that Japan's Individual Action Plan will increase the number of commodities which can be labeled in English.

The other one is phytosanitary measures. In Japan, according to the present regulations, phytosanitary measures must be taken so that all pests are killed completely, but Japan's Individual Action Plan will introduce new measures in this connection. Businesspeople very often say that the hours of the Quarantine Office are rather limited, and the number of quarantine officers is rather small. Japan's Individual Action Plan will take some measures on this.

On residue limits for veterinary drugs, Japan's Individual Action Plan will review procedures for this. Our Plan will announce some measures related to the promotion of inward foreign investment flow.

Japan will also facilitate the mobility of businesspeople by some new actions. From January 1996, Japan has taken measures to issue a multiple-entry visa for up to 90-day stays, valid for three years, for all APEC members. In this connection, Japan's Individual Action Plan will include something new. And Japan will expand the availability of visas for group tours to all APEC member economies. That is a new one which will be included in the Individual Action Plan.

Also, some new measures related to telecommunications will be included. For example, up until now, when other telecommunications providers tried to connect to NTT, there were cases in which the conditions of connections and rates were set in a way that was more favorable for NTT, and there are provisions preventing the establishment of excess telecommunications facilities. Market access is restricted for general Type I telecommunications carriers, and there are provisions which prevent the establishment of excess telecommunications facilities, etc. I think our new measures will be included as to this.

Japan will revise the structural standards in building regulations, with a view to shifting, in principle, from designating particulars regarding materials, specifications and standards to stipulating performance. Performance-based standards will also be introduced in Japanese Agricultural Standards for wood products.

Japan will undertake various measures for a more active competition policy, including reinforcement of the Fair Trade Commission. Preparations are currently underway in order to submit an amendment to the copyright law to the Japanese Parliament that will include extending the range of retroactive protections of neighboring rights to 50 years, and the term of protection of photographic works, as well as increase in the amount of fines for infringement of copyright.

That is about all I can say about Japan's Individual Action Plan, which will be formally and fully announced tomorrow at 14:00 together with my briefing on the morning sessions on the Ministerial Meeting. Having said this, if you have any specific questions on the Meeting or some other subject, I am ready to answer your question.
Japan-Republic of the Philippines discussions on the Information Technology Agreement
Q: Thank you. I have two questions. According to the reports by Japanese newspapers, Mr. Naburo, former Secretary of Trade and Industry, went to Japan as a special envoy of President Ramos. I would like to know all the details of the proposal requested by Naburo. This is my first question.

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: May I respond to your first question? Already the importance of the community itself has been under discussion since the APEC Meeting in Seattle. Now, the Philippine Chair is focusing on this once again. I am sure that the Leaders will exchange views on this and probably -- I do not know what the Leaders will say regarding this -- but the Information Technology Agreement is one of the subjects which can be related to this, because, in order to make an APEC community, information technology should play an important role. I do not know exactly how the Leaders will talk on this. The point is that once again, the Philippine Chair would like to focus on the importance of strengthening the cooperation among the members of APEC. You said that you had a second question.
Discussion at the SOM regarding the membership issue
Q: In an earlier press conference you said that some new criteria, etc., for admission of new members were adopted at the SOM Meeting. Could you tell us what that new criterion is?

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: What I said in my conference was that the SOM Meeting today made a consensus, that is all agreed, to report one recommendation to the Minister's Meeting, but I am not allowed to disclose the content of the recommendation. But as far as the Japanese position is concerned, once again I will repeat that if the consensus is made, and if the moratorium is lifted, Japan will support the participation of Viet Nam and Peru in APEC. But, as far as the details of recommendation are concerned, I cannot make a comment tonight.
Japan-U.S. relations and Japan's relations with Asia-Pacific developing economies vis-vis APEC
Q: France's President Chirac is quoted to have told your Prime Minister that Japan might regret being aligned with the APEC on many issues. President Chirac reportedly told Prime Minister Hashimoto that he would regret having been aligned with the United States on APEC. That is what some newspapers have reported. Could I have your comment on that? Secondly, when you were telling me some details of Japan's IAP, it sounds to me like a re-hash of your dealings with the U.S. Trade Representative, and even bilateral meetings with the Philippines. For example, this multiple re-entry visa for those having three-year visas, this is already being implemented, right? Why do you make it appear to make it as though new?

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: As for your first question, the report sounds very strange that the Japanese Prime Minister has told President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic that--?

Q: No, President Chirac has told your Prime Minister that Japan would probably regret having been aligned with the United States on certain issues of APEC.

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: I am terrible sorry, but I do not have a record of the discussions between the two gentlemen in front of me. But, it would be very strange for President Chirac to have spoken to Prime Minister Hashimoto on this. Specifically, what subject was President Chirac talking about? I do not think that reflects....

Q: I also thought that that would be a very diplomatic statement.

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: Did President Chirac say something in public? I doubt it.

Q: That is what I thought. That is why I said "reportedly." So, even if it is not true yet, if that actually happened, what would be your comment?

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: I am not in a position to make a hypothetical comment.

Q: The report does not seem to have misquoted him.

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: I am terribly sorry, but I do not have the report to which you are referring. It sounds very unrealistic.

Q: Mr. Hashimoto, I quoted this because earlier I did not make myself clear during the first press conference. There are some sectors of the APEC society which believe that America has cornered Japan, has put Japan in a corner where Japan would be forced to deal with America on certain bilateral problems -- trade, mainly -- between them, by having certain allies within APEC. Actually, the accusation is that APEC is a bilateral thing between Japan and the United States, and that other members of APEC are secondary actors. Having those secondary actors as supporters of either Japan or the United States would force Japan to concede to certain trade demands from the United States. For example, opening and liberalizing its market, like as you said, the insurance industry. So, what President Chirac reportedly told Prime Minister Hashimoto -- and this is reported in at least one newspaper -- is of importance to me, and that's why I wanted your comment.

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: From my knowledge, it is very doubtful that President Chirac has said this. If you quote something from only one paper, there is a big possibility that the paper has misquoted. If all the papers quoted what you are saying, I would have to refer to my colleagues. In due course, if you are interested in this topic, I will get back to you. Personally, I think it is very, very doubtful that President Chirac said that. Secondly, Japan has endeavored to let the Asian countries and the United States establish better relations. It has never been Japan's policy to gang up with the United States against the countries in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC is APEC, and we are dealing with bilateral trade issues with the United States whenever necessary. If you are talking about insurance, this is completely a bilateral issue that is being tackled by the two governments. It has nothing to do with APEC.
Insurance-related issues among APEC members
Q: I don't think insurance is a purely bilateral issue, because in fact the Philippines is trying to get in your market, as well. You have a market already here in the Philippines.

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: But Japan and the Philippines have not engaged in the bilateral negotiations in the United States that are to be solved by 15 December between Japan and the United States. In any case, the results coming from the agreement with the United States apply to other countries. So the Philippines can benefit from this. If you are talking about the so-called "trade insurance related to the improvement of infrastructure," the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry is now consulting with the other members.

Q: We are talking here not only of trade insurance, but about life insurance as well.

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: Well, I am talking about the actual insurance issue between Japan and the United States. That is one of the pending issues between Japan and the United States.
Japan's policy on liberalization of trade and investment
Q: It is a very encouraging thing to hear that the Government of Japan is pursuing its liberalization policy. Could you be more specific and tell us in what area of trade and investment Japan will place special emphasis in its liberalization policy?

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: If you are talking about the Individual Action Plans, at 14:00 tomorrow afternoon, my delegation will explain the highlights of the plan. Secondly, if you are talking about the Information Technology Agreement, it will not only be discussed this time, but some kind of agreement will be reached at the upcoming Ministerial Meeting. In due course, we would like to ask our colleagues to sincerely deal with trade and investment. We hope that this issue will be tackled. By doing so, we have many aspects and items which we should further liberalize in the future.

Q: So, nothing concrete has developed at this point, then? We will have to wait until tomorrow. Is that what you are saying?

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: If you are talking about the Individual Action Plans, will you wait until tomorrow? However, if you are talking about the future efforts of Japan's liberalization of trade and investment, basically, it will be pursued at international fora such as the World Trade Organization (WTO). As far as the WTO is concerned, we will have the very important Singapore Meeting. At that meeting, we will once again try, for example, to reach an agreement on the ITA.

Q: So by tomorrow we can expect some definable answer to what I was asking, right?

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: On the Individual Action Plans, yes.
Support for membership of Viet Nam and Peru to APEC
Q: If Japan supports participation of Viet Nam and Peru, I understand that it is quite natural to give greater priority to Viet Nam. I do not understand why Peru is not added, because they are more natural to participate in APEC, maybe with higher priority than India or Pakistan and Mongolia.

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister Hiroshi Hashimoto: I am not here to debate with you. We have indicated two nations, Peru and Viet Nam. Thank you very much.

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