December 20, 2000
COMMENT ON THE DECEMBER 18-19 U.S.-JAPAN GOVERNMENT MEETINGS CONCERNING THE 1995 U.S.-JAPAN AUTO ACCORD
The Japanese automobile industry considers it regretful that the governments of the United States and Japan failed to reach a consensus at their discussions on December 18-19, 2000 in San Francisco on issues pertaining to the imminent expiration of the 1995 U.S.-Japan Auto Accord. From its perspective, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association looks forward to the continuation of these intergovernmental talks in the future and will approach such consultations with the expectation that a resolution satisfactory to both the U.S. and Japan sides will be achieved.
The environment surrounding the automobile industry today is very different from what it was in 1995 when the Accord was established. The past five years have seen the powerful advance of globalization in the operations of automobile manufacturers and auto parts makers alike, signifying important progress in terms of the alliances and cooperative relationships created between the auto industries in the United States and Japan.
For its part, JAMA hopes that both governments will base future discussions on a firm grasp of the prevailing situation in the automobile industry, and that such talks will be clearly focused on what is actually needed for both countries. It is our understanding that the Japanese governments proposals in this area are founded on this approach.
Over the years, JAMA has worked hard to foster industry-level cooperation across a wide range of endeavors, from international automobile standards harmonization to the ongoing activities of JAMA/MEMA and JAMA/ETI. In all cases, the objective has been to provide support to the sound development of business relations between individual companies in the United States and Japan, and to contribute to the forging of strong and favorable ties with affiliated industries in the U.S.
JAMA will continue to actively promote such cooperation between our industries in the years ahead, regardless of the status of intergovernmental discussions on these issues.
