On July 6, 2009 the United States and Japan released the results of their work under the U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative (Regulatory Reform Initiative). The Report details progress made in a number of areas that will help to further open Japan’s market, improve its business environment, and stimulate new opportunities for growth.  Reform-focused results were seen in a broad range of sectors, ranging from information technologies to agriculture, as well as on cross-cutting issues affecting the business environment such as competition policy.

• Regulatory Reform Initiative Overview  http://www.ustr.gov/webfm_send/1185
• 2009 Report to Leaders  http://www.ustr.gov/webfm_send/1186

The U.S.-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Policy Initiative (Regulatory Reform Initiative) serves as a key bilateral forum for both Governments to promote economic growth through regulatory reform. The importance of new measures to stimulate growth, open new markets, and improve the business environment has been highlighted in recent months with the sudden downturn in the global economy. Restoration of stable economic growth remains a high priority, and both Governments therefore re-affirm the contributions of the work under this Initiative to achieving this goal as well as helping expand and deepen the U.S.-Japan economic and trade relationship.

Engagement by the Governments of the United States and Japan under this Initiative is two-way, and was launched in the fall of 2008 after an exchange of recommendations by both Governments in October. Four Working Groups (Cross-sectoral, Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals, Telecommunications, and Information Technologies) met to address reform in key sectors and areas such as intellectual property, distribution and customs procedures, competition policy, trade and investment-related measures, government procurement, consular affairs, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, commercial law, privatization of public entities, and telecommunications/communications. A High-Level Officials Group also met in May 2009 to advance progress on a range of issues raised under this Initiative.

Following the Working Group and High-Level meetings, this Report to the Leaders was prepared to record progress and detail measures to be taken in the future that respond to each Government’s recommendations. This is the eighth annual Report under this Initiative.

In addition to bilateral issues, the Report highlights continuing work by both Governments to strengthen intellectual property rights protection and enforcement in the region and around the world. The two Governments affirm their determination to continue to increase this cooperation in bilateral, regional, and multilateral fora.

Both the Governments of the United States and Japan reaffirm their determination to further promote regulatory reform and, upon the request of either Government.