Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
(On the resolution of the issue of safeguards for three agricultural products, including welsh onions)
December 21, 2001
| 1. |
I welcome the fact that the common recognition has been reached today (December 21,2001) through bilateral discussions between Japan and China, to resolve the issue of safeguards for three agricultural products, including welsh onions, in accordance with the prior agreement between myself and President of the People's Republic of China Jiang Zemin, and that China has decided to eliminate the Special Customs Duties. In addition, I would like to appreciate the efforts made by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Takeo Hiranuma and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tsutomu Takebe, to resolve the issue by tenacious consultations with China.
|
| 2. |
The results of the consultations do not satisfy all of the points that Japan had raised. Nonetheless, through close cooperation between the two governments as well as relevant parties, working in the newly established Agricultural Products Trade Council, it will now be possible to promote stable trade of the three agricultural products, including welsh onions.
Furthermore, in view of promoting friendly relations between Japan and China from a long-term perspective, as well as further developing the economies of the two countries, the government as a whole has now judged that, given the results of the consultations, definitive safeguard measures will not be imposed. |
| 3. |
From now on, with comprehensive cooperation among all related Ministries and agencies, we will promote stable long-term trade of the three agricultural products, including welsh onions, and make all efforts to advance structural reform steadily in the production areas. Therefore I ask for further understanding and cooperation of all those concerned. |
|