1994

Agreement on sheet glass in the US-Japan economic framework talks

News article about the beginning of US-Japan economic talks (Asahi Shimbun, August 31, 2994)

In the 1980s, the US-Japan trade imbalance had increased and the US’s continued trade deficit with Japan, even after the 1985 Plaza Accord, became a political issue. In 1990, the US added sheet glass to the list of promoted exports, seeking to open up the Japanese market and correct the trade imbalance. In a 1993 investigation, Japan’s Fair Trade Commission found that “there are no unfair trade practices with regard to sheet glass.” While emphasizing the openness of the Japanese market and the fairness of the trade situation, NSG independently sought to improve its trade practices. In December 1994, an agreement was reached on the sheet glass section under the US-Japan economic framework talks, but the US continued to request greater access to the market.