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On October 16, 2018, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) notified Congress of the Trump administration&rsquo;s intention to enter into negotiations with Japan for a U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. (See <a href="https://www.trumpandtrade.com/2018/10/u-s-trade-representative-announces-intent-launch-trade-negotiations-japan-european-union-united-kingdom/">Trump and Trade Update dated October 17, 2018</a>.) USTR has stated that its aim in the negotiations is to address both tariff and non-tariff barriers and to achieve fairer, more balanced trade. As a result, and in order to develop negotiating objectives, USTR is <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2018-10-26/pdf/2018-23569.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seeking public comments</a> on such a proposed agreement, including U.S. interests and priorities.
In particular, USTR is seeking comments on the following issues:
<ul>
<li>General and product-specific negotiating objectives for the proposed agreement.</li>
<li>Relevant barriers to trade in goods and services between the United States and Japan that should be addressed in the negotiations.</li>
<li>Economic costs and benefits to U.S. producers and consumers of removal or reduction of tariffs and removal or reduction of non-tariff barriers on articles traded with Japan.</li>
<li>Treatment of specific goods (described by HTSUS numbers) under the proposed agreement, including comments on: (i) product-specific import or export interests or barriers; (ii) experience with particular measures that should be addressed in the negotiations; and (iii) ways to address export priorities and import sensitivities in the context of the proposed agreement.</li>
<li>Customs and trade facilitation issues that should be addressed in the negotiations.</li>
<li>Sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade that should be addressed in the negotiations.</li>
<li>Other measures or practices that undermine fair market opportunities for U.S. businesses, workers, farmers and ranchers that should be addressed in the negotiations.</li>
</ul>
Written comments addressing USTR&rsquo;s negotiating objectives must be submitted no later than November 26, 2018. USTR&rsquo;s Trade Policy Staff Committee will hold a public hearing on these negotiating objective on December 10, 2018; any request to appear and testify must also be submitted by November 26. Requests to testify and written comments must be filed through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.regulations.gov</a> on Docket No. USTR-2018-0034.

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SmarTrade

USTR Requests Comments on Objectives for a U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement