Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO6889
2006-12-07 07:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
CUBA: JAPAN RESPONSE TO LIBERTAD ACT QUESTIONS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0012 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #6889 3410703 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 070703Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8931 INFO RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0010
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 006889
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL JA CU
SUBJECT: CUBA: JAPAN RESPONSE TO LIBERTAD ACT QUESTIONS
REF: STATE 191752
Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Hans G. Klemm for reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 006889
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL JA CU
SUBJECT: CUBA: JAPAN RESPONSE TO LIBERTAD ACT QUESTIONS
REF: STATE 191752
Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Hans G. Klemm for reasons 1.
4 b, d
(C) In response to reftel request, Emboffs met on December 4
with Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Assistant
Director for Latin America and Caribbean Office Yusuke Suzuki
and on December 5 with MOFA Mexico and Central America
Division Principal Deputy Director Daisuke Nakano to discuss
Japan-Cuba economic relations. Below are answers to specific
questions raised reftel.
Q: What is the nature of investments (and names, if known)
that host country businesses have in Cuba?
A: There has been no reported Japanese direct or portfolio
investment in Cuba in the past six months. (Note: The MOF
reporting threshold for foreign investment is Y100 million
(approx. $874,000). Any investment below this threshold is
not included in the Balance of Payments Statistics.)
Q: Are there any bilateral trade agreements between host
country and Cuba?
A: The Japan-Cuba Trade Agreement of 1960. Japan has no
plans for new economic agreements with Cuba. Japanese
exports to Cuba have grown sharply in recent years reaching
JPY 19.2 billion (approximately USD 164 million) in 2005 up
from JPY 3.5 billion in 2002. Over the same period, Japan's
imports from Cuba were more stable reaching JPY 3.4 billion
(USD 25 million) in 2005. Two-way trade is down for 2006
with exports of JPY 12.1 billion (USD 104 million) and
imports of JPY 1.75 billion (USD 15.2 million) in the first
10 months of 2006 (USD 1= JPY 116.) According to Suzuki,
about half of all exports are electronic equipment but the
fastest growing sector is medical equipment, which has shown
solid increases while other products were flat or declined
slightly. On the import side, shrimp constitute the single
largest import segment. According to Suzuki, Japanese
companies are interested in increasing their purchases of
Cuban nickel but have hesitated to do so given the continuing
political uncertainty. The Cuban embassy in Tokyo has a
biannual trade promotion event which Japanese officials
usually attend but do not formally participate.
Q: Are there any exchange programs between host country and
Cuba?
A: There are no official exchange programs. Cuban academics
occasionally visit Japan and vice versa, but these trips do
not involve government programs.
Q: Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to
promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba?
A: Yes. Japan votes in favor of U.S.-backed resolutions
condemning human rights abuses there every year, and supports
civil society in Cuba through its Mission in Havana. Japan
also held a "Dialogue on Human Rights" with Cuba twice, in
October 2001 and May 2003. Japan regularly urges Cuba to
implement reforms during high-level diplomatic visits.
Q: Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between
Cuba and host country in the past six months?
A: There have been three major high-level visits. In
August, a group of Upper House parliamentarians visited
Havana to &build friendship8 with the government of Cuba.
Japan also sent five representatives including Parliamentary
Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kiyohiko Toyama to the
Non-Aligned Movement summit in Havana in September 2006.
Cuban Vice Minister Marcos Rodriguez met with Japan Foreign
Minister Aso in November as part of the annual Japan-Cuba
policy dialogue.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2016
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL JA CU
SUBJECT: CUBA: JAPAN RESPONSE TO LIBERTAD ACT QUESTIONS
REF: STATE 191752
Classified By: Economic Minister Counselor Hans G. Klemm for reasons 1.
4 b, d
(C) In response to reftel request, Emboffs met on December 4
with Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Assistant
Director for Latin America and Caribbean Office Yusuke Suzuki
and on December 5 with MOFA Mexico and Central America
Division Principal Deputy Director Daisuke Nakano to discuss
Japan-Cuba economic relations. Below are answers to specific
questions raised reftel.
Q: What is the nature of investments (and names, if known)
that host country businesses have in Cuba?
A: There has been no reported Japanese direct or portfolio
investment in Cuba in the past six months. (Note: The MOF
reporting threshold for foreign investment is Y100 million
(approx. $874,000). Any investment below this threshold is
not included in the Balance of Payments Statistics.)
Q: Are there any bilateral trade agreements between host
country and Cuba?
A: The Japan-Cuba Trade Agreement of 1960. Japan has no
plans for new economic agreements with Cuba. Japanese
exports to Cuba have grown sharply in recent years reaching
JPY 19.2 billion (approximately USD 164 million) in 2005 up
from JPY 3.5 billion in 2002. Over the same period, Japan's
imports from Cuba were more stable reaching JPY 3.4 billion
(USD 25 million) in 2005. Two-way trade is down for 2006
with exports of JPY 12.1 billion (USD 104 million) and
imports of JPY 1.75 billion (USD 15.2 million) in the first
10 months of 2006 (USD 1= JPY 116.) According to Suzuki,
about half of all exports are electronic equipment but the
fastest growing sector is medical equipment, which has shown
solid increases while other products were flat or declined
slightly. On the import side, shrimp constitute the single
largest import segment. According to Suzuki, Japanese
companies are interested in increasing their purchases of
Cuban nickel but have hesitated to do so given the continuing
political uncertainty. The Cuban embassy in Tokyo has a
biannual trade promotion event which Japanese officials
usually attend but do not formally participate.
Q: Are there any exchange programs between host country and
Cuba?
A: There are no official exchange programs. Cuban academics
occasionally visit Japan and vice versa, but these trips do
not involve government programs.
Q: Has the host country, in Post's opinion, worked to
promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba?
A: Yes. Japan votes in favor of U.S.-backed resolutions
condemning human rights abuses there every year, and supports
civil society in Cuba through its Mission in Havana. Japan
also held a "Dialogue on Human Rights" with Cuba twice, in
October 2001 and May 2003. Japan regularly urges Cuba to
implement reforms during high-level diplomatic visits.
Q: Have there been any high-level diplomatic visits between
Cuba and host country in the past six months?
A: There have been three major high-level visits. In
August, a group of Upper House parliamentarians visited
Havana to &build friendship8 with the government of Cuba.
Japan also sent five representatives including Parliamentary
Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kiyohiko Toyama to the
Non-Aligned Movement summit in Havana in September 2006.
Cuban Vice Minister Marcos Rodriguez met with Japan Foreign
Minister Aso in November as part of the annual Japan-Cuba
policy dialogue.
SCHIEFFER