U.S.-Japan Trade Negotiation Comments

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is seeking public comments on a proposed U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement including U.S. interests and priorities, in order to develop U.S. negotiating positions. Public comments should include information on issues including, but not limited to, the following:

• General and product-specific negotiating objectives for the proposed agreement.
• Relevant barriers to trade in goods and services between the United States and Japan that should be addressed in the negotiations.
• Economic costs and benefits to U.S. producers and consumers of removal or reduction of tariffs and removal or reduction of non-tariff barriers on articles traded with Japan.
• Treatment of specific goods (described by HTSUS numbers) under the proposed agreement, including comments on:
  • Product-specific import or export interests or barriers.
  • Experience with particular measures that should be addressed in the negotiations.
  • Ways to address export priorities and import sensitivities in the context of the proposed agreement.
  • Customs and trade facilitation issues that should be addressed in the negotiations.
  • Sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade that should be addressed in the negotiations.
  • Other measures or practices that undermine fair market opportunities for U.S. businesses, workers, farmers, and ranchers that should be addressed in the negotiations.

The following deadlines apply for this request:

November 26, 2018: Deadline for the submission of written comments, and for written notification of your intent to testify, as well as a summary of your testimony at the public hearing.

December 10, 2018: The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) will hold a public hearing beginning at 9:30 a.m., at the main hearing room of the U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington DC 20436.