Ambassador Marantis is in Tokyo, Japan to meet with his counterparts responsible for economic and trade issues in Japan's government. In meetings on Monday, February 1, he emphasized to Japanese officials the importance of expanding the economic and trade relationship between the United States and Japan, including key areas such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and on intellectual property rights protection. Ambassador Marantis also stressed a desire to expand bilateral work in ways that will further open markets and improve the business climate in Japan for U.S. exporters.
Ambassador Marantis particularly urged Japan to address U.S. concerns in several priority areas, including the automotive, beef, and insurance sectors. On beef, he specifically urged Japan to further open its market in a manner that is both based on science and commercially viable. He stressed the importance of Japan ensuring that Japan Post is put on a level playing field with private companies in the insurance, banking, and express delivery markets. And on autos, Ambassador Marantis underscored the importance of Japan moving forward with implementation of its recent decision to allow U.S. autos imported under the Preferential Handling Procedure import certification. He urged Japan to implement its decision in a manner that is smooth, transparent, and as inclusive as possible of U.S. autos.
Ambassador Marantis also met with senior U.S. executives in the American Chamber of Commerce in Tokyo to underscore the importance USTR is placing on our ongoing engagement with Japan and to coordinate with business leaders there.
Tomorrow, Ambassador Marantis will travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Ambassador Marantis holds an interview with NHK in Tokyo, Japan.
Ambassador Marantis holds a roundtable with Japanese press in Tokyo, Japan.
