THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT The Japanese Government spending policy has given an indirect boost to the competitiveness of a number of Japanese industries. In the past, the government directed considerable public and private resources to targeted priority areas, but has been moving away from such industrial policy measures, partly in response to criticism by Japan's trading partners of these export-oriented policies. The Japanese Government continues to promote high technology cooperation among firms and plays a direct role in organizing these efforts, using off-budget resources and small amounts of appropriated funds to contribute to investment projects and government/private sector efforts. The trade agencies of the Japanese Government (the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, the Japan External Trade Organization, and the Manufactured Imports Promotion Organization) are under pressure from foreign countries to implement further market opening measures. These agencies are now cooperating with the United States in the Joint Trade Expansion Program to increase American exports to Japan. Unlike past market-opening packages, the Japanese Government is now backing its pledges with substantial sums of money on a case-by-case basis for import promotion from the United States. The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI): MITI is responsible for the formulation and implementation of the government's trade and industrial policy. With the Ministries of Finance, Construction, Transportation, Agriculture, and Forestry and Fisheries, as well as the Economic Planning Agency, MITI occupies a central position in what the Japanese call the economic bureaucracy. MITI is regarded as one of the three most powerful and prestigious ministries of the central government (together with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). MITI has overall responsibility for trade matters, and it funds most of the government's export promotion programs. However, day-to-day management and operation of these programs is the Japan External Trade Organization's responsibility. MITI functions include both policy-making and operations. On export-related matters, it supervises the export financing programs of Japan's Export-Import Bank, operates several types of export insurance programs, supports research organizations, and facilitates various types of overseas technical and cooperation training programs. The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO): Although legally placed under MITI's aegis, JETRO administers the export programs of the Japanese Government with virtual independence. MITI subsidizes roughly 60 percent of JETRO's total annual expenditures and, technically, has final decision-making authority over JETRO management and programs. Originally established to help Japanese firms export, JETRO now also assists American companies seeking to export to Japan and promotes Japanese investment in the United States. JETRO publishes a number of market information reports and other pamphlets useful to U.S. exporters. The degree of assistance you are able to receive from JETRO may vary. Minimally, you should obtain a publication list from the organization. Other JETRO trade promotion activities include: Export to Japan Opportunity Database: This is a combination of two separate databases aimed at providing small and medium-sized overseas exporters with opportunities to do business with Japanese importers. The Potential Importer Database identifies Japanese companies and the merchandise they want to import. This data is freely accessible from each of JETRO's seven U.S. offices to help a potential U.S. exporter find a potential Japanese importer. The Potential Exporter Database provides the names of U.S. companies interested in exporting to Japan with full product descriptions. This database is available for use by Japanese importers at JETRO's Local Internationalization Centers in 49 locations throughout Japan. Japanese Tops Information System: Not to be confused with the U.S. Department of Commerce TOP program, the JETRO TOPS (Trade Opportunity Service) is a closed-access database system for matching potential business partners. The JETRO TOPS system matches overseas exporters with Japanese importers from a database of tens of thousands of companies. Registered companies are provided with a list of potential business contacts. To register your company, complete the application form available at JETRO's seven U.S. offices. Trade Fairs: Since 1985, JETRO has organized large-scale trade fairs in Japan for foreign products and services. Exhibitors in these events have benefited from JETRO's extensive network of contacts in Japanese industrial and distribution circles. In addition, JETRO has recently initiated a pilot project involving small-scale exhibitions of foreign products, exhibitions for spot sales, and import product promotion seminars in several Japanese cities. JETRO publishes a comprehensive annual directory titled List of Trade Fairs in Japan. For this publication and other trade fair information, call one of the seven U.S. JETRO offices. Trade Complaints: Exporters who believe they have encountered nontariff barriers or other institutional problems related to trade should contact the U.S. Department of Commerce. In addition, complaints may be brought to the attention of JETRO. When JETRO deems it appropriate, trade complaints will be forwarded to the Office of Trade and Investment Ombudsman (OTO), which was established by the Japanese Government for the purpose of settling trade grievances. Complete information about the OTO is available at all JETRO offices. JETRO offices in the United States are located at: JETRO, New York JETRO, Chicago 44th Floor, McGraw-Hill Building 401 North Michigan Avenue 1221 Avenue of the Americas Suite 660 New York, NY 10020 Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: (212) 997-0400 Phone: (312) 527-9000 JETRO, Houston JETRO, Denver 1221 McKinney 1200 17th Street One Houston Center, Suite 2360 Suite 1110 Houston, TX 77010 Denver, CO 80202 Phone: (713) 759-9595 Phone: (303) 629-0404 JETRO, Los Angeles JETRO, San Francisco 725 Figueroa Street Suite 501 Suite 1890 Qantas Building Los Angeles, CA 90017 360 Post Street Phone: (213) 624-8855 San Francisco, CA 94108 Phone: (415) 392-1333 JETRO, Atlanta 245 Peachtree Center Avenue Suite 2102 Marquis One Tower Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: (404) 681-0600 The Manufactured Imports Promotion Organization (MIPRO): MIPRO is a nonprofit organization established in 1978 by the joint efforts of the Japanese Government and the private sector to promote the imports of foreign manufactured products by hosting various trade exhibitions and providing a wide range of market information. MIPRO's activities are broadly classified into the following three categories: (1) holding imported product trade exhibitions for buyers and the general public, (2) disseminating information regarding imported products and the Japanese market, and (3) promoting sales of foreign products to Japanese consumers to enhance their appreciation of the quality of imported goods. MIPRO operates under the aegis of JETRO and maintains an office in Washington, DC at (202) 659-3729.