U.S. wants Japan Post to have equal footing with private firms
The United States urged Japan on Friday to ensure that Japan Post will have an equal footing with private companies in express mail delivery, postal savings and insurance businesses after the state-backed entity is privatized, a U.S. government trade official said.
The official said it is important that the postal entity establish “a truly level playing field between Japan Post and its competitors in the insurance, banking and express delivery markets.”
The U.S. government made the request to the Japanese government when the two sides held working-level talks in Tokyo from Wednesday to Friday.
The talks are part of bilateral dialogue under the U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative. It is a key component of the Japan-U.S. Economic Partnership for Growth, launched in 2001 by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush.
During the talks, Japanese officials asked the United States to restart visa renewal procedures for foreign nationals within the country and ease some other regulations related to antiterrorism measures, Japanese officials said.
Japan also asked the United States to promptly abolish trade measures that violate World Trade Organization rules, the officials said.
On Japan’s planned postal privatization, the U.S. trade official said the Japanese government should “implement a standstill on the introduction of new products originated by Japan Post’s insurance and banking units” until a truly level playing field is established.
The Japanese government endorsed a blueprint for postal privatization in September, under which Japan Post will be split into four units in charge of mail delivery, postal savings, postal insurance and post office network management under a holding company in April 2007.
The current round of bilateral talks covers five areas, including medical services, energy and information technology.
The U.S. also asked Japan to facilitate quarantine procedures and reiterated its call for cutting landing fees at Japanese airports, the U.S. official said.
The two sides will compile a report to be presented to Koizumi and Bush prior to a summit of major countries next July.
