CHARGE DISCUSSES APEC AND AGRICULTURE WITH MOFA

UNCLAS TOKYO 002496 SENSITIVE SIPDIS USTR FOR AUSTR CUTLER AND MBEEMAN NSC FOR JLOI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD JA SUBJECT: CHARGE DISCUSSES APEC AND AGRICULTURE WITH MOFA DEPUTY MINISTER KOHNO ¶1. (SBU) CDA told MOFA Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Masaharu KOHNO during a September 10 courtesy call that Japan and the United States should use their roles as upcoming chairs of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (in 2010 and 2011, respectively) to promote their free trade and regional integration objectives. Deputy Minister Kohno agreed, noting that the GOJ wanted to establish a well coordinated APEC agenda with the United States as well as Singapore, the 2009 Chair. He expressed his desire to meet with APEC Senior Official Ambassador Haslach during her next visit to Japan. ¶2. (SBU) CDA noted that while the overall state of the U.S.-Japan economic relationship is good, certain issues such as full market access for U.S. beef remain to be resolved. The United States would like to engage Japan in more discussions on food and product safety, particularly how the global trading system can better address these concerns. Deputy Minister Kohno said the GOJ welcomes an opportunity to work with the USG on these issues and suggested that these talks be extended to multilateral fora. The CDA said that the United States is a reliable trading partner and willing to work with Japan to increase consumer awareness about the safety of U.S. food and agriculture products. ¶3. (SBU) Deputy Minister Kohno said he planned to attend the Sub-cabinet meetings in Washington in November and expressed his appreciation for the CDA,s offer to help arrange appropriate meetings with his USG counterparts. ZUMWALT