USTR 1/22 RELEASE ON JAPANESE FOREIGN RICE PURCHASES

[USIA]

USIS Washington File

22 January 1998

TEXT: USTR 1/22 RELEASE ON JAPANESE FOREIGN RICE PURCHASES

(U.S. supplying more than 50 percent) (390)

Washington -- The United States will have supplied more than 50
percent of Japan's rice imports by the end of the current Japanese
fiscal year, according to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Charlene
Barshefsky.

"U.S. rice is highly competitive, in both price and quality, and this
growth in exports demonstrates that U.S. producers can be highly
successful in the Japanese market," Ambassador Barshefsky said in a
January 22 press release. "Japan has been a market of exceptional
importance for U.S. rice and this action demonstrates again the gains
for U.S. rice growers from trade agreements."

Following is the text of the release:

(begin text)

U.S. SHARE OF JAPAN'S FOREIGN RICE PURCHASES EXCEEDS 50%

U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky announced today that
Japan is buying more than half its rice imports from the United States
during the current Japanese fiscal year (April 1997-March 1998). This
represents a new high for U.S. exports of rice to Japan in the
post-Uruguay Round period. Under Uruguay Round commitments, Japan
pledged to substantially open its rice market to foreign suppliers.
The United States will supply 50.1% of Japan's rice imports for the
year ending March 31, 1998.

"U.S. rice is highly competitive, in both price and quality, and this
growth in exports demonstrates that U.S. producers can be highly
successful in the Japanese market," Ambassador Barshefsky stated. "We
are pleased with the increase in Japanese purchases of U.S. rice this
year. Japan has been a market of exceptional importance for U.S. rice
and this action demonstrates again the gains for U.S. rice growers
from trade agreements."

Under Uruguay Round commitments, Japan agreed to expand its minimum
market access for imported rice. The commitment for Japanese Fiscal
Year (JFY) 1997 was to import 530,600 metric tons (on a milled basis).
The most recent Japanese tender, on January 16, resulted in purchases
of 73,000 tons of rice from the United States, out of a total of
91,900 tons (brown and milled rice). The January tender completes
Japan's rice buying for the current fiscal year, JFY 97.

(end text)