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Joint Mission Statement The U.S. - Japan Business Council and The Japan - U.S. Business Council
WHEREAS, the United States and Japan, the world's largest economies, share a bilateral relationship of the greatest importance and thus have a profound influence and impact on international economics, markets, and relations, and
WHEREAS, the members of the business and industrial sectors of both nations that have substantially benefited, and continue to benefit, from bilateral business and economic relations have the responsibility and obligation to commit their collective skills, expertise, energy, and efforts to maintaining and enhancing a positive environment for U.S.-Japan relations for the sake of mutual and global prosperity.
THEREFORE, the U.S.-Japan Business Council (the U.S. Council) and the Japan - U.S. Business Council (the Japanese Council), each comprised of senior executives from the business and industrial sectors of the respective nations, agree to the following objectives and actions:
JOlNT OBJECTIVES
The U.S. Council and the Japanese Council will jointly work to identify common business interests, promote bilateral business cooperation, foster mutual understanding, enhance the U.S.-Japan business relationship, and contribute to the process of resolving bilateral economic and trade issues.
To achieve these goals, the Councils will together seek ways to improve the current policies and practices of the public and private sectors of both the United States and Japan.
Specifically, the Councils will organize the U.S.-Japan Business Conference, a Joint Executive Committee Meeting, a Special Joint Task Force, and other arrangements as necessary.
U.S.-JAPAN BUSINESS CONFERENCE
The U.S. Council and the Japanese Council will jointly hold the U.S.-Japan Business Conference (the Conference) once annually, inviting all members of the respective Councils to participate.
The Conference shall strive to deepen mutual understanding through vigorous and open discussion among its participants, and where problems or opportunities exist in the U.S.-Japan economic relationship, the Conference shall seek to identify them and function as a catalyst for constructive improvement.
- A. The Conference will provide an opportunity for discussion on how to reduce the existing obstacles to U.S. and Japanese businesses and to maximize future opportunities for the growth of both economies.
- B. Based upon their joint assessment of the changing nature of the bilateral economic environment, the Councils will determine items for discussion. Given the current economic environment, the following six items are considered critical issues that must be undertaken by the Conference:
- Improved market and investment access;
- The bilateral trade imbalance and identification of its causes;
- Globalism, regionalism, and the goals of securing and expanding the global free trading system;
- Rules governing trade and business as established by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (the “GATT”);
- Harmonization of trade and other rules that govern business activities, including but not limited to, items such as anti-trust regulations; and
- Macro-economic measures that would promote global trading and economic growth.
- The results of the discussions of the Conference may be made available to representatives of government and/or to members of the media and other appropriate organizations.
- C）In addition, the Conference will provide opportunities for dialogue between participants of the Conference and key U.S./Japanese government representatives, and may invite other major opinion leaders such as scholars and journalists to exchange views on various aspects of the U.S.-Japan relationship.
JOINT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETlNG
The Councils will hold once annually, a Joint Executive Committee Meeting where the Executive Committee members of the U.S. Council and the Japanese Council will meet.
The Joint Executive Committee Meeting will make steering decisions pertaining to the operation of the Conference, and exchange views on timely economic and political developments. Working Groups to focus on issues related to the Conference also may be established at the meeting.
The Joint Executive Committee Meeting may also provide opportunities for dialogue with key U.S./Japanese government representatives, and other major opinion leaders such as scholars and journalists to exchange views on various aspects of the U.S.-Japan relationship.
SPECIAL JOINT TASK FORCE
The U.S. Council and the Japanese Council will form a Special Joint Task Force to offer proposals to and urge action from the respective governments on major and pressing issues that seriously affect U.S. and Japanese business.
Under the joint leadership and coordination of the Chairmen of the respective Councils, the Special Joint Task Force will evaluate critical bilateral business and economic issues, identify their causes, and consult with representatives of both governments in an effort to help resolve these issues and strengthen U.S.-Japan relations. Proposals of the Special Joint Task Force shall reflect the views agreed upon by the Special Joint Task Force's Japanese and American members and shall be subject to approval by the respective Councils.
The members of the Special Joint Task Force will be selected jointly by the Japan Chairman and the U.S. Chairman in consultation with the appropriate members of their respective Councils.