Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO617
2009-03-19 08:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
INSURANCE: MOFA, PM'S OFFICE ON JAPAN POST NEW
how-toVZCZCXRO3572 OO RUEHFK RUEHGH RUEHKSO RUEHNH DE RUEHKO #0617 0780839 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 190839Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1640 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 8346 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4371 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 6467 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 3608 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 6860 RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 3068 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 5408 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 6727 RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0552 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 7279 RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000617
SIPDIS
USTR FOR AUSTR CUTLER, BEEMAN, AND HOLLOWAY
NSC FOR LOI, RUSSELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: EFIN ECON PGOV JA
SUBJECT: INSURANCE: MOFA, PM'S OFFICE ON JAPAN POST NEW
PRODUCT
REF: TOKYO 555
Classified By: Charge James P. Zumwalt for reasons 1.4 b/d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000617
SIPDIS
USTR FOR AUSTR CUTLER, BEEMAN, AND HOLLOWAY
NSC FOR LOI, RUSSELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: EFIN ECON PGOV JA
SUBJECT: INSURANCE: MOFA, PM'S OFFICE ON JAPAN POST NEW
PRODUCT
REF: TOKYO 555
Classified By: Charge James P. Zumwalt for reasons 1.4 b/d.
1. (C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Economic Policy
Director General Suzuki, in a March 18 meeting with EMIN,
provided a readout of a briefing he and representatives from
the Financial Services Agency (FSA),Ministry of Internal
Affairs and Communications (MIC),and the Postal Services
Privatization Committee (PSPC) gave to Chief Cabinet
Secretary Takeo Kawamura on postal privatization and Japan
Post Insurance's (JPI's) possible application for a new
cancer product.
2. (C) Suzuki said he had briefed CCS Kawamura on March 16,
partly because the February 11 letter House Ways & Means
Chair Rangel sent on the Japan Post Insurance issue had
gotten the attention of Ambassador Fujisaki. Suzuki said the
meeting went into detail on USG points regarding JPI issuing
new products prior to it being fully privatized and the
implications of such a move. Suzuki said Kawamura is aware
of the problems and knows well about cancer and the
importance of supplementary cancer insurance products, given
his personal medical history. EMIN stressed to Suzuki that a
new application would be taken very seriously and cause
extremely difficult problems given that Japan Post Insurance
is not yet privatized and that politicians are intervening in
various parts of the privatization process. It is important
the GOJ work to avoid an action that could cause serious
problems.
3. (C) Responding to questions, Suzuki said MOFA did not know
when a new product application might be filed and that no one
knows what Japan Post Insurance's plans are right now. He
noted the JPY 10 million cap on its products remains in force
and that only a change in administrative ordinances can
remove this product limitation. Suzuki said he personally
wants to see a level playing field and conveyed to Kawamura
the USG's "high interest" in the privatization and product
issues. Suzuki explained that even if a new product were
applied for in the next few days, the Prime Minister's office
is now engaged and any action now will need the approval of
the PM's office. (Note: the FSA has delegated authority from
the PM in the product approval process.) Suzuki said he told
Kawamura the GOJ needs to go the "extra mile" with the USG on
this issue given the sensitivities.
4. (U) Septel reports Japan Post Insurance's March 19 request
for a change to the administrative ordinance governing its
insurance product offerings.
ZUMWALT
SIPDIS
USTR FOR AUSTR CUTLER, BEEMAN, AND HOLLOWAY
NSC FOR LOI, RUSSELL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: EFIN ECON PGOV JA
SUBJECT: INSURANCE: MOFA, PM'S OFFICE ON JAPAN POST NEW
PRODUCT
REF: TOKYO 555
Classified By: Charge James P. Zumwalt for reasons 1.4 b/d.
1. (C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Economic Policy
Director General Suzuki, in a March 18 meeting with EMIN,
provided a readout of a briefing he and representatives from
the Financial Services Agency (FSA),Ministry of Internal
Affairs and Communications (MIC),and the Postal Services
Privatization Committee (PSPC) gave to Chief Cabinet
Secretary Takeo Kawamura on postal privatization and Japan
Post Insurance's (JPI's) possible application for a new
cancer product.
2. (C) Suzuki said he had briefed CCS Kawamura on March 16,
partly because the February 11 letter House Ways & Means
Chair Rangel sent on the Japan Post Insurance issue had
gotten the attention of Ambassador Fujisaki. Suzuki said the
meeting went into detail on USG points regarding JPI issuing
new products prior to it being fully privatized and the
implications of such a move. Suzuki said Kawamura is aware
of the problems and knows well about cancer and the
importance of supplementary cancer insurance products, given
his personal medical history. EMIN stressed to Suzuki that a
new application would be taken very seriously and cause
extremely difficult problems given that Japan Post Insurance
is not yet privatized and that politicians are intervening in
various parts of the privatization process. It is important
the GOJ work to avoid an action that could cause serious
problems.
3. (C) Responding to questions, Suzuki said MOFA did not know
when a new product application might be filed and that no one
knows what Japan Post Insurance's plans are right now. He
noted the JPY 10 million cap on its products remains in force
and that only a change in administrative ordinances can
remove this product limitation. Suzuki said he personally
wants to see a level playing field and conveyed to Kawamura
the USG's "high interest" in the privatization and product
issues. Suzuki explained that even if a new product were
applied for in the next few days, the Prime Minister's office
is now engaged and any action now will need the approval of
the PM's office. (Note: the FSA has delegated authority from
the PM in the product approval process.) Suzuki said he told
Kawamura the GOJ needs to go the "extra mile" with the USG on
this issue given the sensitivities.
4. (U) Septel reports Japan Post Insurance's March 19 request
for a change to the administrative ordinance governing its
insurance product offerings.
ZUMWALT