Members of the trade community are being asked to provide input on what should be included in a U.S. trade agreement with Japan. The Trump administration has announced plans to launch negotiations on such an agreement no earlier than Jan. 14, 2019. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative states that its goal is for a final agreement to address tariff and non-tariff barriers and “achieve fairer, more balanced trade.”
USTR is therefore seeking public comments on the following topics. Comments may be submitted in writing by Nov. 26 or voiced at a Dec. 10 public hearing in Washington, D.C.
– general and product-specific negotiating objectives
– relevant barriers to bilateral trade in goods and services
– economic costs and benefits to U.S. producers and consumers of removing or reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers on articles traded with Japan
– treatment of specific goods (described by HTSUS numbers) under the proposed agreement, including (a) product-specific import or export interests or barriers, (b) experience with particular measures, and (c) ways to address export priorities and import sensitivities
– customs and trade facilitation issues
– sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade
– other measures or practices that undermine fair market opportunities for U.S. businesses, workers, farmers, and ranchers