WASHINGTON - The Office of the United States Trade Representative announced today the issuance of a Federal Register Notice seeking senior executive-level candidates from the U.S. private sector for membership on the U.S.-Japan Private Sector/Government Commission ("Commission") for the year 2002. The Commission was launched in June 2001 by President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi as a key feature of the U.S.-Japan Economic Partnership for Growth ("the Partnership"). The aim of the Commission, which will be made up of U.S. and Japanese government and private sector representatives, is to more fully integrate the U.S. and Japanese private sectors into the economic work of the two governments.

The Commission is scheduled to meet in the first quarter of next year and will address the following topic: "Creating an Environment for Sustainable Growth: Raising Productivity and Corporate Revitalization." Under this topic, the group is expected to focus on issues such as productivity, corporate restructuring, and corporate governance – all of which are important elements of a healthy, growing economy and as such, are timely and relevant issues for consideration by the United States and Japan. Letters of interest from U.S. private sector officials interested in participating on the Commission must be received no later than December 20, 2001.

Details on the Commission, selection criteria/process, and duties and responsibilities of private sector representatives can be found in the Federal Register Notice.

For a description of the goals and structure of the Commission and the Partnership, read the "Annex to the Joint Statement."
http://www­.mac.doc.gov/japan/source/menu/partnership/partnership2.html.

###