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1994-05-02
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<text>
<title>
Japan: Japanese-NAFTA Consultative Forum Urged
</title>
<article>
<hdr>
Foreign Broadcast Information Service, May 28, 1992
Japan: Japanese-NAFTA Consultative Forum Urged
</hdr>
<body>
<p>[Tokyo KYODO in English 2309 GMT 26 May 92]
</p>
<p> [Text] Tokyo, May 27 KYODO--Japan and the three members of
the prospective North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
should establish a forum for multilateral dialogue, according
to a report submitted Tuesday to Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa.
</p>
<p> The report was given to Miyazawa by Nobuo Matsunaga, a
former ambassador to the U.S. and Mexico, on behalf of the
Japan-Mexico Commission for the 21st Century. It was also
submitted to Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari.
</p>
<p> The commission was inaugurated in April 1991 as a forum for
private and public sector leaders of the two countries to
consult on future bilateral relations.
</p>
<p> Addressing Japan's concerns about being left out of NAFTA
and the tripartite grouping's potential to become an economic
bloc, the report urged Japan, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada to
"establish a North Pacific Economic Forum as a place where
multilateral dialogue could be conducted by representatives of
the private and public sectors."
</p>
<p> "This type of joint effort could not only be profitable for
the member countries, but could also contribute to the
maintenance of a free trade regime and the steady development
of the world economy as a whole," it said.
</p>
<p> A senior Foreign Ministry source said both Japan and Mexico
support the recommendation, adding that Japan plans to pose it
to the U.S. and Canada after they and Mexico conclude their
negotiations on regional economic integration and sign a final
NAFTA agreement.
</p>
<p> "If they were to go ahead and implement their own ideas
without coordinating them with Japan, NAFTA could become an
economic bloc discriminatory to Japan and other countries," the
source said. "So we need consultations with them."
</p>
<p> In an apparent trade-off, the report also expressed support
for Mexico's quest for an expanded economic presence in the
dynamic Pacific basin region, including membership in the Asia-
Pacific Economic Conference (APEC).
</p>
<p> It said the proposed Japan-NAFTA forum would also have
implications for Mexico in terms of development of its economic
relations with Asia-Pacific countries.
</p>
<p> "In view of the possibility that business opportunities for
Mexico in this region could increase, its relations with Japan
would be crucial for attaining maximum benefits in future
commercial endeavors," it said.
</p>
<p> The report contained 32 "specific recommendations,"
including the establishment in Japan by Mexico of a center for
promotion of trade, investment, tourism, and technology
transfer.
</p>
<p> Another was the establishment in Mexico City of a "Pacific
Trade Center" with office space and halls for Japanese, other
Asian, and Mexican firms.
</p>
<p> The report said Japan should increase its cooperation
through financing and technical training to contribute to
solving the pollution problems in Mexico, especially the acute
air pollution in Mexico City.
</p>
<p> It suggested that Japan cooperate with Mexico in setting up
an institute for research and training on environmental issues
in Mexico City which would be open to specialists and
researchers from all Latin American countries.
</p>
</body>
</article>
</text>