DIET ECONOMIC AGENDA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 TOKYO 000762 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR MICHAEL BEEMAN DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USDA GENEVA ALSO FOR USTR PARIS FOR USOECD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ECON EFIN EAGR ELAB EINV ETRD JA SUBJECT: DIET ECONOMIC AGENDA TOKYO 00000762 001.2 OF 005 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The 2007 Diet convened on January 25 and will run 150 days to June 23 during which it will consider a number of economic bills with potential impact on this summer's Upper House election, particularly those designed to bolster PM Abe's "Second Chance" initiative to close a perceived widening of the income gap, such labor and local revitalization legislation. Some of the legislation also has bearing on US interests. For example, on the plus side, local economic revitalization legislation may result in more incentives for investment; anti-money laundering provisions will be extended to more sectors; telecom mutual recognition agreement legislation will be enacted; and, the special regulatory reform zone law will be extended. The government: has backed off plans, at least temporarily, to do away with overtime for certain white collar workers; seems set to allow a ministerial cooperative to compete more with private sector insurance; and will create too high a value for express mail to receive expedited customs treatment. Table of contents: Para 2 -- Fiscal 2007 budget Para 2-3 Para 4 -- Tax change legislation Para 4 Para 5 -- Labor reform proposals Para 5-8 Para 9 -- Local economic revitalization legislation Para 13 -- An anti-money laundering bill Para 14 -- Consumer cooperative legislation Para 15 -- Telecommunications equipment Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) Para 16 -- Special zones for structural reform Para 17 -- Basic maritime law Para 18 -- Customs law Para 19 -- The opposition party's planned attack on agricultural legislation End Summary. Fiscal 2007 Budget -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Diet ordinary session began January 25 with deliberations on a supplemental budget for the current FY2006, which was approved on February 6, thus clearing the way for disbursement of funds. The supplemental budget called for net additional expenditures of 3.8 trillion yen ($32 billion, or 0.7 percent of GDP) and sets aside disaster relief and disaster prevention programs (878 billion yen or $7.4 billion),international contributions such as peace keeping operations (163 billion or $1.37 billion),and measures to support disabled (96 billion yen or $808 million). 3.(SBU) Immediately after completing work on the supplemental budget, the Diet began deliberation of the regular budget for FY2007. Total budget expenditures call for 82.9 trillion yen ($691 billion, or 16 percent of GDP),representing an increase of 4.0 percent from the initial FY2006 budget. Almost all of this growth (3.9 percentage points) is caused by an increase in mandatory spending items: debt service costs, social security spending, and revenue sharing with local governments. Mandatory spending items account for about 70 percent of total outlays. The remaining 30 percent is discretionary spending, including public works and non-investment discretionary programs. On the revenue side, tax receipts are estimated to reach 53.5 trillion yen ($446 billion), the highest level since FY1997, while non-tax receipts are projected to amount to 4.0 trillion yen ($33 billion). In order to cover the shortfall, MOF plans to issue 25.4 trillion yen ($212 billion) of new government bonds in FY2007, the smallest bond issuance in 10 years and a decrease of 4.5 trillion yen ($38 billion) from the initial FY2006 budget Tax Change Legislation -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Tax change legislation for FY2007 includes the first net tax cut in four years, which lowers the corporate tax burden, particularly on depreciable assets. This change would allow corporations beginning in April, 2007, to deduct as a tax-exempt TOKYO 00000762 002.2 OF 005 expense 100 percent of the acquisition cost of newly-acquired depreciable assets, rather than the current rate of 95 percent. With Company Law provisions on cross-border triangular mergers taking effect in May, 2007, the legislation also proposes that using a parent company's shares as consideration in such a merger or acquisition be added to the eligible list of qualified tax deferrals for capital gains, although related regulation will determine if this can be a viable vehicle for new investors in Japan. As a fiscal matter, these tax changes are minor modifications to Japan's tax system, reflecting a consensus among policymakers that deliberations on major tax reforms, including a consumption tax hike, should be shelved until after Upper House elections in July, ¶2007. Labor Reform Legislation -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The government has announced plans to introduce legislation to reform several existing labor-related laws. The changes are intended to increase labor mobility and workplace flexibility and to recognize long-term demographic changes. Some of the proposals are part of the government's "second chance" initiative to assist workers and business owners who have been hurt by economic changes. ¶6. (SBU) Top of the list of labor-related draft legislation is a proposal to amend the Labor Standards Law to raise the premium rate for overtime pay that exceeds 80 hours a week to 150 percent, a key demand of labor unions. The measure also encourages companies to "make efforts" to raise the rate for overtime in excess of 45 hours to 25 percent. In a nod to small and medium size enterprises (SMEs),the government would delay application of the new rate to firms with less than 300 employees for three years. Prime Minister Abe explicitly stated that the aim of the bill is to reduce the amount of overtime worked by Japanese employees. ¶7. (SBU) Meanwhile, the government has withdrawn its proposal to expand the range of white-collar workers above a certain salary level who are ineligible for mandatory overtime pay. Employers pushed for such an exemption, claiming that current overtime regulations date from a time in which the bulk of Japanese were factory workers. Such requirements are inappropriate given the growing proportion of knowledge-based white collar employees in the Japanese workforce, according to the legislation's advocates. Labor unions and opposition lawmakers argued, however, that given the nature of Japan's labor-management relations, the proposal would lower employees' take home pay without reducing the amount of hours worked. The government has said it intends to introduce the bill again next year. ¶8. (SBU) A second draft bill would require employers to provide equal treatment to part-time workers if they work under the same conditions as regular employees. There has been growing concern over the increasing number of younger workers who are unable to find regular full time employment. Local Economic Revitalization -------------- ¶9. (SBU) As part of its new economic growth strategy, the Japanese government has proposed changes to the Industrial Revitalization Law and to a new Local Industrial Invigoration Law that could have a positive impact on Japan's investment climate. In the past, the Industrial Revitalization Law only focused on revitalizing the manufacturing sector. A revision of this law would broaden the scope of the existing preferential measures, such as exemption from certain inspection requirements and mitigation of certain corporate taxes and licensing fees, for companies that undertake corporate restructuring or transfer of intellectual property for the purpose of increasing research and development capacity or increasing industrial productivity. The revision would also focus on increasing productivity in the service sector by offering, for example, tax exemptions and other special treatment that previously had been available only to the manufacturing sector. Whereas the service sector accounts for 70 percent of Japan's GDP, its TOKYO 00000762 003.2 OF 005 productivity remains low compared to the manufacturing sector. This bill would also help facilitate M&A between companies specializing in different business fields -- e.g. a cell phone operator and a credit card company. ¶10. (SBU) The second bill, the Local Industrial Invigoration Law, would introduce measures to revitalize local economies by allowing local governments greater flexibility in setting criteria for industrial location regulations. Among the incentives, local authorities would be allowed to grant special amortization rules and increases in small business insurance and indemnification rates. The purpose is to allow local governments to provide special incentives to attract new industrial investment to their localities. For example, local municipal governments would have the authority to relax regulations that currently force companies to set aside some land as green space, thus giving businesses more incentive to relocate to the region. ¶11. (SBU) A related piece of legislation called the SME Regional Resources Revitalization Bill targets the revitalization of SMEs in rural areas by encouraging, through tax exemptions, preferential loan rates or credit guarantees the development of new services and products using regional resources -- for example, technology or farm commodities unique to the region. ¶12. (SBU) These bills are part of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's (METI's) "Economic Growth Initiative," which was announced in July 2006. The goal of the Initiative is to tackle issues hindering economic growth in Japan such as the declining birthrate, the huge budget deficit and the escalation of international competition, most notably in Asia. The press has been critical of these bills, however, calling them "jumbled," and has questioned whether they will encourage any substantive growth. Anti-Money Laundering Bill -------------- ¶13. (SBU) The Cabinet has already approved - and the Diet is expected to pass -- the so-called anti-money laundering bill to prevent the illegal use of profits from crime and terrorist-related funds. This law would mandate private businesses such as real estate agents, jewelry dealers and private mailbox agencies, to confirm a customer's identity, to retain identity verification records, and to produce suspicious transaction reports (STRs) for the Financial Intelligence Unit(FIU) -- actions only financial institutions currently are required to do. The law would also require professionals such as certified public accountants and certified tax accountants to confirm a customer's identity and to retain identity verification records; lawyers were dropped from the legislation at the last moment, due to bar association protests over client confidentiality. The FIU is currently under the jurisdiction of the Financial Services Agency (FSA) but will be moved to the National Police Authority (NPA) jurisdiction in April 2007. The NPA will continue to analyze STRs and provide Japan's Prefectural police headquarters and overseas FIUs with its analysis. Consumer co-operatives -------------- ¶14. (SBU) The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) plans to submit a bill to overhaul the 60-year old law governing its consumer co-operatives. ONE of the amendments proposed by MHLW would enhance protection for its cooperative insurance (Kyosai) policy holders. The US insurance industry is concerned that while MHLW may develop stricter policyholder protection measures, such as mandatory third party auditing, it may also ease regulations on restricting membership. The industry also is worried that the insurance unit of the consumer co-operatives may sell its insurance products inside banks in direct competition with private insurance companies' products. The USG has repeatedly reminded GOJ that the goal of consumer co-operatives is to provide aid only to its members and that, as non-profit organizations, they enjoy various tax breaks that give them advantages not enjoyed by private companies. Thus, absent the creation of a "level playing field," membership restrictions should remain strict and co-op sales should remain TOKYO 00000762 004.2 OF 005 within the concept of mutual aid. Telecommunications Equipment MRA -------------- ¶15. (SBU) After years of talks, U.S. and Japanese negotiators signed a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for Telecommunications Equipment in Washington on February 16. This is the first MRA in any sector between the U.S. and Japan. The agreement will allow U.S. and Japanese regulators to accept the results of testing labs and certifications on telecommunications equipment obtained in either country, leading to easier market access for manufacturers wishing to sell in either Japan or the United States. In 2005 the United States exported about $1 billion in telecommunications equipment to Japan and Japan exported about $1.6 billion in telecommunications equipment to the United States. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sources tell us that the Cabinet will submit the MRA to the Diet during the second week of March alongside other treaties. MOFA expects the bill to pass both houses in summer 2007. The agreement will not go into effect until MIC finishes writing up the regulations needed to comply with the agreement, probably in late 2007. Special Zones for Structural Reform -------------- ¶16. (SBU) Launched in 2002, the Special Zones for Structural Reform have served as a way around Japan's tough regulatory environment by allowing regulation exemptions in a particular "zone". As of November, 2006, the number of Special Zones had reached 604. A new bill before the Diet will extend the system for another five years to March 31, 2012. The Diet may also review the method by which the "exemptions" are extended nationwide after a certain period. Basic Maritime Law -------------- ¶17. (SBU) Politician-initiated legislation on the Basic Maritime Law is expected to be introduced during this Diet session. The purpose of this bill is to define Japan's basic principles for the safety of the marine environment, development and use of ocean resources, and maintenance and control of oceanic security. The bill is also meant to hold accountable the national and regional governments, along with private businesses and citizens, by defining basic measures for preserving the ocean and for promoting and implementing these measures comprehensively. If passed, the Basic Maritime Law would establish a Minister responsible for executing and promoting comprehensive national maritime policy. The bill would also establish a Maritime Policy Council including the Prime Minister as chair, the Minister for Maritime Policies as vice chair, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, ministers of other relevant agencies, and academics. Customs Law -------------- ¶18. (SBU) The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has introduced a bill with Cabinet approval that would revise Japan's Customs Laws. The proposed bill makes changes to the customs clearance procedures for international postal items that the Japan Fair Trade Commission and the USG considered to be competitive, market-based, express mail system (EMS) products. The bill introduces a duty declaration system for EMS with values greater than 200,000 yen. The bill should be finalized by the end of FY2006 and implemented within a year to a year and half. The bill does not specify a review system for the customs procedure, but a MOF official told the Embassy that the bill likely can be amended whenever necessary. US stakeholders have lobbied against setting such a high threshold because the majority of items of lesser value will continue to be assessed by the existing duty assessment system. USG and US companies have requested through the Regulatory Reform Initiative recommendations and other channels that EMS be regulated the same way as private express delivery firms. Agriculture TOKYO 00000762 005.2 OF 005 -------------- ¶19. (SBU) No agricultural legislation affecting US interests looms during the current Diet session, but the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),with an eye to the Upper House elections in July, plans to attack agricultural legislation passed during last year's ordinary session that may have an impact on Japan's growing income gap. Last session's legislation aims to consolidate farmland and increase competitiveness in the farming sector by offering cross-commodity payments to a limited number of farms and farming institutions that exceed given criteria. The opposition party has indicated it would like to repeal the legislation and that it will submit ideas for new subsidies for all farms, regardless of size. Under the DPJ proposal, a direct subsidy would be paid to the farmer to make up the difference between the farmer's production costs and the market price for staple crops such as rice, wheat, etc. The opposition parties hold only around 30 percent of the seats in the House of Representatives, however, so the current legislation is unlikely to be repealed. ¶20. (SBU) In addition, the DPJ may also raise food safety in order to tap into ongoing public concern over beef and genetically modified commodities. The DPJ may raise, for example, the need to enhance traceability systems. On quarantine measures, they may discuss increasing the number of inspectors, which currently total around 300.