2005/04/10(Sun)
郵政民営化問題で、毎年アメリカから日本へ提出されている「年次改革要望書」についての議論がさかんである。
この問題について、少し、歴史をさかのぼってみたい。
この、いわゆる「改革要望書」なるものの、そもそもの始まりは、1993年7月のアメリカのクリントン大統領の訪日にはじまる。
当時の日本の総理は、宮沢喜一さんであった。
日米両首脳は、1993年7月10日の日米首脳会談で、『新しい日米経済協力関係に関する枠組に関する共同声明」（Joint Statement on the Japan-United States Framework for a New Economic Partnership）の中で、「地球的展望に立った協力のための共通課題」(the Common Agenda for Cooperation in Global Perspective)を、発表した。
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/agenda/report96.html参照
この中で、「部門的・構造的問題についてのコンサルテーションと交渉」(Sectoral and Structural Consultations and Negotiations)の一項が設けられた。
http://www.ioc.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~worldjpn/documents/texts/JPUS/19930710.D1E.html参照
これにもとづいて、1994年5月24日に、ワシントンで、事務レベルでの全体会議が開かれ、アメリカ側からは、Timothy E. Wirth氏、日本側からは、林貞行氏、 岡松壮三郎氏らが出席して、この共通課題の範囲を「環境・技術・人的資源開発・人口問題・エイズ問題」の5分野に絞った。
これらの検討結果は、クリントン大統領と、細川総理大臣との間で、ホワイトハウスで発表された。
http://dosfan.lib.uic.edu/ERC/briefin
g/dispatch/1994/html/Dispatchv5no22.html参照
1995 年から、,「 the Enhanced Initia-tive on Deregulation and Competition Policy under the U.S.-Japan Framework for a New Economic Partnership」として発表された。
1997年6月19日からは、“JOINT STATEMENT ON THE U.S.-JAPAN ENHANCED INITIATIVE ON DEREGULATION AND COMPETITION POLICY
UNDER THE US-JAPAN FRAMEWORK FOR A NEW ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP” として発表された。
http://170.110.214.18/tcc/data/commerce_html
/TCC_Documents/Japan_Agreement_on_Deregulation/
Japan_Agreement_on_Deregulation.html
http://www.acus.org/Publications/occasionalpapers/Energy/us-japan.pdf参照
検討分野は、6分野にわかれ、電気通信分野、住宅、医療機器、医薬品、金融サービス・エネルギーなどに加えて、構造的問題として、競争政策が取り上げられ、さらには、透明性の確保問題や、政策実行問題に関連した課題も、取り上げられた。
1998年5月15日に、アメリカは、「First Joint Status Report on the U.S.-Japan Enhanced Initiative on Deregulation and Competition Policy 」を発表し、1998年10月に、日米両国は、それぞれの報告書の交換をした。
http://www.mac.doc.gov/japan/source/menu/dereg/jrdereg.html
http://www.mac.doc.gov/japan/source/menu/dereg/jrdereg.html参照
1999年5月３日に、日米両国政府は、「SECOND JOINT STATUS REPORT ON THE U.S.-JAPAN ENHANCED INITIATIVE ON DEREGULATION AND COMPETITION POLICY」を発表した。
http://www.mofa.go.jp/
region/n-america/us/report9905.html
http://170.110.214.18/TCC/DATA/
commerce_html/assoc_docs/secondderegreport.html参照
「the Third Joint Status Report」は、2000年7月に、沖縄サミットの席で交わされた。
そこで、郵政民営化の取り上げられ方であるが、
郵政民営化については、1996年１１月１５日付の同書で要望され、また、簡保問題(Kampo products)については、200年7月22日発表の「the Third Joint Status Report on the U.S.-Japan Enhanced Initiative on Deregulation and Competition Policy」で取り上げられた。
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/report0007.html
http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/trade_
policy/n_america/us/data/comments_nte2002e.pdf参照
そして、簡保問題については、2001年7月30日の「the Forth Joint Status Report on the U.S.-Japan Enhanced Initiative on Deregulation and Competition Policy」でも、『FINANCIAL SERVICES』の中で、『Kampo (Postal Insurance)』として取り上げられている。
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/report0106.html参照
2001 年6月30日のキャンプデービッドでのブッシュ・小泉会談によって、これまでの「規制改革に関する対話」の終結と、「the Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative」の開始を確認し、2002年からは、『日米規制改革および競争政策イニシアティブに基づく日本政府への米国政府の年次改革要望書』(The Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative (”Reform Initiative”))の毎年の発表となった。
http://www.meti.go.jp/english/information
/data/JUSrelation/cRegRefe.html参照
第一回は、2002年10月23日発表で、
http://www.ustr.gov/assets/World_Regions/North_
Asia/Japan/Regulatory_Reform_Initiative/asset_upload_file676_6535.pdf
第二回は、2003年5月23日発表で、http://www.ustr.gov/assets/Document_Library/Fact_Sheets/
2003/asset_upload_file882_6532.pdf
http://www.ustr.gov/assets/World_Regions/North
_Asia/Japan/Regulatory_Reform_Initiative/
asset_upload_file429_6539.pdf
第三回は、2004年6月8日発表で、
http://japan.usembassy.gov/pdfs/wwwf-regref20040609rpt3-e.pdfを参照
これらについては、リンク集『Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative』http://www.ustr.gov/World_Regions/North_Asia/Japan/Regulatory_
Reform_Initiative/Section_Index.htmlがあるので、これをご参照
ちなみに、これも皮肉なことなのだが、これらの改革要望書の日本語訳は、アメリカ大使館のサイトで、次のように見ることができる。
2003年規制改革要望書（2003年10月24日）
http://japan.usembassy.gov/j/p/tpj-j20031024d1.html
2002年規制改革要望書（2002年10月23日）
http://japan.usembassy.gov/j/p/tpj-jp0260.html
これらサイトへのアメリカ大使館のリンク集
http://japan.usembassy.gov/j/policy/tpolicyj-econ.html
まあ、このように見ていると、まさに皮肉ではないが、このいわゆる「改革要望書」なるものは、日本の政策を決定している『先行指標」となっていることが、赤裸々にわかってしまう。
となると、日本の政策を作っていたのは、永田町でも霞ヶ関でもなくて、ホワイトハウスだったってこと？
かんがえてみれば、独占禁止法の改正も、商法改正も、確定拠出型年金の導入も、自己資本比率規制(BIS規制)の導入も、司法制度改革も、そして、今度の郵政民営化も、多くの日本の政策とされるものの下敷きは、この「改革要望書」なるものにあったのだ。
参考 1. アメリカ・日本間の「改革要望書」の経緯
1993年7月10日 Joint Statement on the Japan-United States Framework for a New Economic Partnership
http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/area
/usa/keizai/framework/pdfs/fw_statement_e.pdf
The U.S.-Japan Common Agenda for Cooperation in Global Perspective (the Common Agenda)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/
region/n-america/us/agenda/gpers.html#2
1995年 the Enhanced Initiative on Deregulation and Competition Policy under the U.S.-Japan Framework for a New Economic Partnership
1996年 the Enhanced Initiative on Deregulation and Competition Policy under the U.S.-Japan Framework for a New Economic Partnership
1997年6月19日 Joint Statement on the U.S.-Japan Enhanced Initiative on Deregulation
and Competition Policy under the U.S.-Japan Framework for a New Economic Partnership
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/summit/1997/joint.html
1998年5月15日 First Joint Status Report on the U.S.-Japan Enhanced Initiative on Deregulation and Competition Policy
http://www.mac.doc.gov/japan/source/menu/dereg/jrdereg.html
1999年5月3日
SECOND Joint Status Report on the U.S.-Japan Enhanced Initiative on Deregulation and Competition Policy
http://www.mofa.
go.jp/region/n-america/us/report9905.html
2000年7月19日 the Third Joint Status Report on the U.S.-Japan Enhanced Initiative on Deregulation and Competition Policy
http://www.mac.doc.gov/japan/source/menu/dereg/3rdjsr.html
2001年7月30日 the Forth Joint Status Report on the U.S.-Japan Enhanced Initiative on Deregulation and Competition Policy
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/report0106.html
2002年10月23日Annual Reform Recommendations from the
Government of the United States to the Government of Japan under the
U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative
http://www.ustr.gov/assets/World_Regions/North
_Asia/Japan/Regulatory_Reform_Initiative/asset
_upload_file676_6535.pdf
2003年10月24日Annual Reform Recommendations from the
Government of the United States to the Government of Japan under the
U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative
http://www.ustr.gov/assets/World_Regions/North
_Asia/Japan/Regulatory_Reform_Initiative/asset_upload_
file429_6539.pdf
2004年10月14日Annual Reform Recommendations from the
Government of the United States to the Government of Japan under the U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative
http://www.ustr.gov/assets/World_Regions/North
_Asia/Japan/Regulatory_Reform_Initiative/asset
_upload_file229_6538.pdf
参考2.アメリカ・日本間の「改革要望書」に記載された『郵貯・簡保』に関する記載箇所(2000年から2004年までの該当箇所を記載）
THIRD JOINT STATUS REPORT ON THE U.S.-JAPAN ENHANCED INITIATIVE ON DEREGULATION AND COMPETITION POLICY
July 22, 2000
IV. FINANCIAL SERVICES
B Insurance
1. Improvements in Administrative Procedures and Practices
2. Kampo (Postal Insurance)
1. The insurance products or riders underwritten or sold on consignment by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) are to be offered pursuant to law. Approval from the Diet is required to expand or change the insurance products or riders offered by MPT except for limited alterations within the scope of the products or riders authorized by law.
2. Regarding the future of the Kampo, the Basic Law on the Administrative Reform of the Central Government of 1998 provided for the Soumusho and the Postal Services Agency, and later the Soumusho and the new public corporation, to take over the management of the system, and to implement the system, reflecting its objective as defined in the Postal Life Insurance Law as well as the basic ideas contained in the Administrative Reform Program adopted by the Cabinet on December 25,1996.
3. The Diet passed a law in its 147th session, authorizing post offices to sell on consignment compulsory automobile liability insurance products underwritten by private non-life insurance providers for mopeds and motorbikes with engine displacement of 250 cc or less. MPT currently has no plans to propose legislation to authorize post offices to sell non-life insurance products other than what is already authorized by the Diet.
(1) The law enables post offices to sell the products mentioned above for the purpose of expanding the coverage of compulsory automobile liability insurance for mopeds and motorbikes with engine displacement of 250cc or less.
(2) The law stipulates that, when the Postal Services Agency is engaged in this business, the Agency will be subject to the relevant provisions of the Insurance Business Law.
(3) MPT will, at the time of inviting consignors, announce the selection criteria, and at the time of selecting consignors, will treat domestic and foreign insurance providers on a non-discriminatory basis. MPT confirms that in response to requests from private insurance companies, it will meet with those companies to explain the selection criteria to be utilized when choosing a private sector underwriter to be a consignor.
4. MPT reaffirms the contents of paragraphs IV(4)b and VII of the Measures by the Government of the United States and the Government of Japan Regarding Insurance of October 1994.
5. MPT confirms that, in response to requests from private interested parties, including foreign insurance providers, it will meet with those parties to explain matters regarding the formulation of proposals to seek from the Diet an amendment to the law to expand, or change, Kampo products.
FOURTH JOINT STATUS REPORT ON THE U.S.-JAPAN ENHANCED INITIATIVE ON DEREGULATION AND COMPETITION POLICY
June 30, 2001
B. Kampo (Postal Insurance)
1. The Government of Japan reaffirms section IV. B. 2. of the Third Joint Status Report on the U.S.-Japan Enhanced Initiative on Deregulation and Competition Policy, issued in July 2000.
2. Regarding the future of the Postal Life Insurance System (Kampo), the Basic Law on the Administrative Reform of the Central Government of 1998 provided for MPHPT and the Postal Services Agency in January 2001, and later MPHPT and the new postal public corporation (yusei kosha), to take over the management of the Postal Life Insurance system, and to implement the system, reflecting the objective set out in the Postal Life Insurance Law, as well as the basic ideas in the Administrative Reform Program adopted by the Cabinet on December 25, 1996. MPHPT is currently considering the framework of the Postal Life Insurance Law which is to be applied in the new public corporation system.
3. Considering the provision in the Postal Life Insurance Law, which stipulates that the purpose of Postal Life Insurance is to promote the welfare of the public, and the interest of private parties, including foreign insurance providers, in the modification of the Kampo system, MPHPT recognizes the importance of informing the general public of the formulation of the amendments of the provisions concerning Kampo products in the Postal Life Insurance Law which the transfer to the new public corporation would affect, before the bill is submitted to the Diet.
4. MPHPT will provide an opportunity for private interested parties, including foreign insurance providers, upon request, to comment on, and exchange views with MPHPT regarding the formulation referred to above.
Annual Reform Recommendations from the Government of the United States to the Government of Japan under the
U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative
October 23, 2002
FINANCIAL SERVICES
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
C Postal Financial Institutions (yucho and kampo): Allow the postal financial
institutions to employ the asset management services of investment advisory companies
through direct onshore trust arrangements;increase transparency and promote private
sector provision of services by subjecting any new financial service activities proposed for
the Postal Financial Institutions to full public comment and consideration before their
introduction.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
I. Specific Measures. The United States welcomes regulatory reform in the following
areas at the earliest possible date:
A. Permit the Postal Financial Institutions (yucho and kampo) to employ the asset
management services of investment advisory companies through direct onshore
trust arrangements (tokutei shintaku) without the requirement to convert asset
positions into cash before changing asset managers;
V. Postal Financial Institutions. The U.S. Government continues to share concerns voiced
by Keidanren and others related to the effect of the postal financial institutions – postal
savings (yucho) and postal insurance (kampo) – on the efficient operation of Japan’s
financial markets. The drafting of implementing rules and regulations, which will guide
the creation of the Public Postal Corporation in 2003 and establish operational guidelines
of the three postal services (mail delivery, savings, and insurance), provides an important
opportunity for the Japanese Government to take concrete steps to address key
transparency and competition issues related to these organizations.
A. Transparency. The process for the transfer of the postal services from the Postal
Services Agency to a public postal corporation and its possible effects on the
private sector remain unclear. To remedy this, the U.S. Government urges
MPHPT to take steps to sufficiently inform and seek input from the public
(including foreign insurers) on all aspects of the transfer that may affect private
sector operations in the relevant sectors. This includes affording the insurance
industry and other interested parties (both domestic and foreign) meaningful
opportunities to be informed of, comment on, and exchange views with MPHPT
officials on:
1. MPHPT-proposed plans and draft legislation prior to their submission to
the Diet; and
2. Draft guidelines and other regulatory measures prior to their
implementation, with full utilization and implementation of the Public
Comment Procedures.
B. Curb Expansion. In transferring the postal services and establishing a public
corporation in 2003, the United States recommends that Japan prohibit the postal
financial institutions (kampo and yucho) from underwriting any new insurance
products or originating any new non-principal-guaranteed investment products.
Annex - 30
C. Same Standards. In transferring the postal services and establishing a public
corporation in 2003, the United States recommends that, in order to create a level
playing field between the postal financial institutions and their private sector
competitors, Japan subject the postal financial institutions to the same laws, level
of taxation, safety net contribution requirements, and standards of regulation as
their private sector counterparts.
D. Privatization. The U.S. Government notes that Prime Minister Koizumi has
received recommendations from the private panel he tasked with studying the
possible privatization of the postal services organizations (including the postal
financial institutions). As any modifications to the existing system could have a
significant impact on competition in, and the effective operation of, the broader
insurance market in Japan, it is important that any decisions on privatization be
made and implemented in an open and transparent manner. This would include
the same measures as outlined above in Section V A.
Annual Reform Recommendations from the Government of the United States to the Government of Japan under the
U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative
October 24, 2003
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
C Postal Financial Institutions: Ensure that the privatization of postal services is
undertaken in a transparent manner, curb expansion of product offerings of postal
financial institutions, and subject the postal financial institutions to the same standards as
their private-sector counterparts.
II. Transparency. To improve transparency in financial sector regulatory and supervisory
practice, the United States would welcome measures in the following areas at the earliest
possible date:
A. In line with the announced goal of carefully reviewing the activities of public
sector corporations and avoiding competition with the private sector, the United
States requests that any proposed report, request for product/service approval, or
legislative action relating to the provision of financial services by the Postal
Financial Institutions (yucho and kampo) that will affect the existing conditions of
V. Postal Financial Institutions. The U.S. Government continues to share concerns voiced
by Keidanren and others related to the effect of the postal financial institutions – postal
savings (yucho) and postal insurance (kampo) – on the efficient operation of Japan’s
financial markets.
A. Transparency. With regard to the formulation of proposed amendments to the law
related to kampo products and distribution or origination by Japan Post of nonprincipal-
guaranteed yucho investment products, the U.S. Government urges MPHPT to take steps to sufficiently inform and seek input from the public
(including foreign insurers) on all aspects that may affect private sector operations
in the relevant sectors. This includes providing the insurance industry and other
private sector interested parties (both domestic and foreign) meaningful
opportunities to comment on and exchange views with MPHPT officials on:
1. MPHPT-proposed plans and draft legislation prior to their submission to
the Diet; and
2. Draft guidelines and other regulatory measures prior to their implementation, with full utilization and implementation of the Public
Comment Procedures.
B. Same Standards. The United States recommends that, in order to create a level
playing field between the postal financial institutions and their private sector
competitors, Japan subject the postal financial institutions to the same laws, level
of taxation, level of safety net contributions, reserve requirements, standards and
regulatory oversight as their private sector counterparts.
C. Curb Expansion. The United States urges Japan to prohibit the postal financial
institutions (kampo and yucho) from underwriting any new insurance products
that the private sector can provide, or originating any new non-principalguaranteed
investment products, until measures to ensure a level playing field (as
recommended immediately above) are implemented. Towards this end, the
United States urges the Japanese Government to reaffirm Japan’s commitment to
the new product review and approval process outlined in the U.S.-Japan Insurance
Agreement of 1994 with regard to new kampo-underwritten policies.
D. Privatization. The U.S. Government notes that Prime Minister Koizumi has tasked
Economy and Fiscal Policy Minister Takenaka to compile a postal-privatization
plan for the three postal services including kampo and yucho by the fall of 2004,
with the goal of privatizing the postal services in April 2007. As any
Annex - 35 modifications to the existing system could have a significant impact on
competition in, and the effective operation of, the broader insurance market in
Japan, it is important that any decisions on privatization be made and
implemented in an open and transparent manner. This would include the same
measures as outlined above in Section V A.
Annual Reform Recommendations from the Government of the United States to the Government of Japan under the
U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative
October 14, 2004
PRIVATIZATION
The United States has taken a continuing interest in Prime Minister Koizumi’s efforts to restructure and
privatize Japan’s public corporations, a reform initiative that can have a major impact on the Japanese
economy by stimulating competition and leading to a more productive use of resources. The United
States is particularly interested in Prime Minister Koizumi’s ambitious efforts to privatize Japan Post.
Because Japan’s postal life insurance and postal saving businesses have grown to become the world’s
largest life insurer and savings institutions, their privatization is expected to have an enormous impact on
companies operating in these sectors. Scheduled to commence in 2007, Japan Post privatization is likely
to have significant implications for private express delivery companies.
Central to the United States’ recommendations this year is the principle that privatization of Japan Post
should be ambitious and market-oriented if it is to achieve maximum economic benefits for the Japanese
economy. A truly market-oriented approach must include the establishment of undistorted competition in
Japan’s insurance, banking, and express delivery markets. Elimination of all advantages accorded to
Japan Post over its private sector competitors is essential. These advantages have long been of concern
to U.S. and Japanese companies alike. The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy took an important
step forward in its September 10, 2004 Basic Policy on the Privatization of Japan Post by recognizing the
importance of equalizing the “competitive conditions” between Japan Post and private companies.
The United States looks forward to successful privatization of Japan Post and other entities such as
Narita International Airport and the Japan Highway Public Corporation. This is a complex and
challenging undertaking that, if carried out effectively, can bring great benefit to the Japanese economy
and Japan’s companies and consumers. Highlights of this year’s recommendations on privatization are:
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
C Fair Competition in Express Delivery:Ensure the postal regulator is independent and
fully separate from Japan Post; prohibit Japan Post’s postal business from receiving special
government benefits that distort competition in business operations where it competes with
the private sector.
V. Postal Financial Institutions. The U.S. Government continues to share concerns voiced
by Nippon Keidanren and others about the effect of the postal financial institutions –
postal savings (yucho) and postal insurance (kampo) — on the efficient operation of
Japan’s financial markets.
A. Transparency. With regard to the formulation of proposed amendments to laws
related to kampo products and distribution or origination by Japan Post of
non-principal-guaranteed yucho investment products, the United States urges
relevant parties in the Government of Japan to take steps to sufficiently inform
and seek input from the public (including foreign insurers) on all aspects that may
affect private sector operations in the relevant sectors. This includes providing
the insurance industry and other private sector interested parties (both domestic
and foreign) meaningful opportunities to comment on and exchange views with
relevant Japanese officials on:
1. Proposed plans and draft legislation prior to their submission to the Diet;
and
2. Draft guidelines and other regulatory measures prior to their
implementation, with full utilization and implementation of the Public
Comment Procedures.
B. Same Standards and Curb Expansion. The United States urges that a fully level
playing field be achieved between the postal financial institutions and their private
sector competitors, in accordance with measures outlined in II.A.1. of the
Privatization Chapter. Until a fully level playing field is achieved, the United
States also urges Japan to prohibit the postal financial institutions from
underwriting any new or altered insurance products that the private sector can
provide, or originating any new non-principal-guaranteed investment products.
PRIVATIZATION
II. Privatization of Japan Post. Privatization of Japan Post must be ambitious and
market-oriented to achieve maximum economic benefits for the Japanese economy. A
truly market-oriented approach must include the establishment of undistorted competition
in Japan’s insurance, banking, and express delivery markets through, among other
measures, the elimination of all advantages accorded to Japan Post over its private sector
competitors. These advantages have long been of concern to U.S. and Japanese
companies alike. The Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy (CEFP) took an important
step in its September 10 “Basic Policy on the Privatization of the Japan Post” by
recognizing the importance of establishing “equal footing” as well as equalizing the
“competitive conditions” between Japan Post and private companies. The CEFP report
also identifies specific measures with regard to same tax and safety net obligations and
the termination of government guarantees on products for the postal insurance and
savings businesses to be taken from the start of privatization in 2007. The U.S.
Government welcomes these specific recommendations and urges their inclusion in
legislation to privatize Japan Post.
A. Postal Insurance and Postal Savings. In order for the privatization of Japan Post to
fully achieve the CEFP’s call for “equal footing” with the private sector as well as
to bring about fair competition in Japan’s insurance and banking sectors, the
United States urges Japan to take the following measures:
1. Establish a truly level playing field with private sector companies,
including:
a. Subjecting the postal insurance and savings businesses to the same
laws, regulations, tax requirements, reserve requirements,
standards, and regulatory supervision as the private sector;
b. Taking sufficient steps to avoid public perceptions of implicit
government guarantees on new postal insurance and postal savings
Annex - 45 products, especially until the full divestiture of government shares
in the postal insurance and savings businesses is complete;
c. Implementing adequate measures, including full accounting transparency, among the new postal insurance, postal savings, and
other affiliated businesses to ensure their transactions are arms-length and eliminate the potential for cross-subsidization
among Japan Post’s financial and non-financial businesses; and
d. Taking appropriate measures, including rigorous enforcement of
the Antimonopoly Act, to ensure that the postal insurance and
savings businesses do not use their market power to distort
competition.
2. Implement a moratorium on the introduction of new lending services, new
or altered insurance products underwritten by the postal insurance business, and the origination of non-principal-guaranteed investment
products by the postal savings business until after a truly level playing
field (as recommended immediately above) has been achieved, and at that
point ensure that such products and services are introduced in a balanced
manner.
3. As the Japanese Government moves forward with plans to allow Japan
Post to distribute privately-originated non-principal-guaranteed investment
products, ensure that the selection of such products is conducted in a fair
and transparent manner.
4. Ensure that any selection of privately-originated insurance products to be
distributed through Japan Post is conducted in a fair and transparent
manner.
5. Ensure no new advantages are accorded to the postal insurance and
savings businesses as a result of the privatization process.
6. Create an independent committee to review on a regular basis the
conditions of competition between postal insurance and savings businesses
with private sector companies, with the goal of ensuring that equal conditions are maintained throughout the privatization process.
B. Express Delivery Services. In order to foster fair competition between Japan Post
and express delivery carriers, the United States urges Japan to take the following
measures:
1. Independent Regulator. Ensure that the regulatory authority for postal
matters is separate and independent from Japan Post, and has sufficient
Annex - 46
authority to ensure that Japan Post, or any entity it controls, does not
operate in an anti-competitive manner.
2. Non-Discriminatory Treatment. Ensure as appropriate that government
policies do not accord a supplier of a competitive service special benefits
that modify the terms of competition, such as exemption from taxes and
other fees, special treatment by government agencies in the transport of
goods, and exemption from the cost of Customs operations.
3. Cross-Subsidization. Implement controls to prevent anti-competitive
cross-subsidization of competitive services with revenues gained from the
supply of universal services. One such control could be to ensure that
accounting for Japan Post and all its related companies are separate,
independent, and fully transparent.
以上
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