VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHKO #2496 2540901
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 100901Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7159
INFO RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
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