Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume IV, Foreign Assistance, International Development, Trade Policies, 1969–1972

268. Joint Statement Issued by the Governments of the United States and Japan¹

Washington, February 9, 1972.

JOINT STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL

ECONOMIC RELATIONS

Japan and the United States today made the following Declaration and agreed to communicate the declaration to the Director General of the GATT for transmittal to the contracting parties. Other contracting parties are invited to associate themselves with this declaration to the extent and at the time which they would deem appropriate.²

Japan and the United States recognize the need for proceeding with a comprehensive review of international economic relations with a view to negotiating improvements in it in the light of structural changes which have taken place in recent years. The review shall cover inter alia all elements of trade, including measures which impede or distort agricultural, raw material and industrial trade. Special attention shall be given to the problems of developing countries.

Japan and the United States will seek to utilize every opportunity in the GATT for the settlement of trade problems, the removal of which would lessen current trade distortions, and will strive for further progress with respect to those matters now being discussed in the GATT Committee on Trade in Industrial Products and the GATT Agricultural Committee. Japan and the United States agree that progress in GATT in solving some problems in 1972 could facilitate the way in the GATT for a new major initiative for dealing with longer term trade problems. To this end, they also agree in 1972 to analyze and evaluate in the GATT alternative techniques and modalities for multilateral negotiation of long term problems affecting all elements of world trade.

Japan and the United States undertake to initiate and actively support multilateral and comprehensive negotiations in the framework of GATT beginning in 1973 (subject to such internal authorization as may be required) with a view to the expansion and liberalization of world trade, improvement in the international framework for the conduct of commercial relations, and improvements in the standard of living of the people of the world. These multilateral negotiations shall be conducted on the basis of mutual advantage and mutual commitment with overall reciprocity, and shall cover agricultural as well as industrial trade. The negotiations should involve active participation of as many countries as possible.

1. Source: National Archives, RG 364, Office of the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations: Lot 78 B 1, STR Reading: January/February 1972. No classification marking. This joint statement was issued by Eberle and Japanese Ambassador Ushiba. It is also printed in Department of State Bulletin, April 3, 1972, pp. 512-515.
2. The Office of the Director-General of GATT issued the statement to the GATT Contracting Parties on February 10 (L/3669). (National Archives. RG 364, Office of the Special Representative for Trade Negotiations: Lot 78 B 1, GATT Ministerial, Jonathan Showe)