Japan asked to import more from ASEAN nations
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) called on Japan yesterday to import more goods from its seven member countries to reduce its trade imbalance.
Thai Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Amnuay Viravan, representing ASEAN in a dialogue with Japan, suggested that Japan reduce and -- where possible -- eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers which mostly inhibit goods from ASEAN countries.
"Even though the Japanese government has recently reduced tariff barriers for a number of industrial products, the ASEAN countries continue to experience great difficulties in gaining access for many of their manufactured and agricultural exports to Japan," Viravan said in his statement.
He noted that ASEAN would welcome in particular the elimination of discriminatory tariff treatment for similar products imported from different countries.
ASEAN, Viravan said, would also seek the increase of import quotas for ASEAN exports to Japan and greater transparency in the allocation of such quotas, as well as the relaxation of Japan's excessively stringent hygiene standards to conform with international standards.
"On our part, ASEAN has been making efforts to improve the quality of its exports to meet the requirements of Japanese consumers," Viravan said.
Japan has for many years been the most important trading partner and source of financial and technical assistance as well as investment for ASEAN. The balance of trade, however, has been in Japan's favor for several consecutive years.
"Japan's economic strength is undisputed. ASEAN therefore continues to hope that Japan will be bold enough to reduce and eventually eliminate the existing barriers to trade, particularly in agricultural commodities," Viravan said.
On the investment side, Viravan called on Japanese companies, especially those which have already been investing in ASEAN, to transfer their modern technology to their local partners and utilize more and more local parts and components in their manufactured goods.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda reiterated his country's commitment to the economic prosperity of the Southeast Asian countries.
As ASEAN countries enjoy an increasing prosperity, Ikeda said, Japan "looks forward to cooperating with ASEAN in promoting development in other regions, including the development of the Mekong River Basin, the implementation of the refuge settlement and rural development project in Cambodia and the extension of economic assistance to African countries.
"Japan expects that these types of joint assistance between ASEAN and Japan could become a model of development aid in the future," Ikeda said.
He also called for further dialogue and cooperation between Japan and ASEAN to tackle problems, which are the byproducts of economic development.
He noted that economic development in Asia brings enormous benefits to the world as a whole. At the same time, however, there are concerns that the impact of the rapid increase in demand for energy and food along with the increased emission of greenhouse gases may increase the load on the environment if unattended.
"These issues might bear not only economic but also political and security implications through, for example, the intensification of competition for access to limited resources and environmental destruction in surrounding areas," Ikeda said. (rid)