Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
2011/08/25
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Consulate Kaduna
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Ponta Delgada
Consulate Peshawar
REO Mosul
REO Kirkuk
REO Hillah
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
US Delegation FEST TWO
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ADANA
ASEC
AFIN
AMGT
AE
AORC
AID
AR
AO
AU
ASEAN
AGOA
AFGHANISTAN
AFFAIRS
AMED
APER
ASECARP
APEC
AEMR
AS
AA
ANET
AFLU
ABLD
AL
ASUP
AJ
APECO
AMER
ABUD
AODE
AM
AFSN
AESC
AND
AG
ALOW
AROC
AVIANFLU
ATRN
ACOA
AEGR
AMGMT
AADP
AFSI
ACABQ
APRM
AZ
AIDS
ASE
AGAO
ADCO
ABDALLAH
ARF
AIDAC
ACOTA
ASCH
AC
ASEG
AGR
ACS
AMCHAMS
AN
AMIA
ASIG
ADPM
ADB
ANARCHISTS
ALOWAR
ARM
AUC
AINF
AINT
AORG
AY
AVIAN
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARSO
ARABBL
ASO
ANTITERRORISM
ARABL
AOWC
AGRICULTURE
ALJAZEERA
AMTC
AFINM
AOCR
ABER
ARR
AFPK
ASSEMBLY
ASSK
AZE
AORCYM
AINR
AGMT
AEC
ACKM
APRC
AIN
ASCC
AFPREL
ASED
APERTH
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AOMS
AORCO
ANTXON
ARC
AFAF
ADIP
AIAG
AFARI
AEMED
AORL
AX
ASECAF
AOPC
ASECAFIN
AFZAL
APCS
AMB
AGUIRRE
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AIT
ARCH
AMEX
ALI
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
ALEXANDER
ATRD
AEIR
AOIC
ABLDG
ASEX
AFR
ASCE
ATRA
ASEK
AER
ALOUNI
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AMAT
AEMRS
ASPA
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ALL
AECL
ACAO
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORD
AFL
AME
ADM
ASECPHUM
AGIT
ABT
ASECVE
AGUILAR
AT
ABMC
ALZUGUREN
ANGEL
ASR
ANTONIO
BMGT
BEXP
BM
BG
BL
BA
BR
BTA
BO
BY
BBSR
BLUE
BK
BF
BTIO
BELLVIEW
BE
BU
BN
BH
BD
BC
BTC
BILAT
BT
BX
BRUSSELS
BP
BB
BRPA
BUSH
BURMA
BMENA
BESP
BIT
BBG
BGD
BMEAID
BAGHDAD
BEN
BIO
BMOT
BWC
BLUNT
BURNS
BUT
BGMT
BAIO
BCW
BOEHNER
BFIF
BOL
BASHAR
BIMSTEC
BOU
BIDEN
BZ
BFIN
BTRA
BI
BHUM
BOIKO
BERARDUCCI
BOUCHAIB
BORDER
BEXPC
BTIU
BTT
BIOS
BEXB
BGPGOV
BOND
BLR
CE
CG
CH
CVR
CASC
CU
CI
CD
CO
CDG
CB
CJAN
CPAS
COM
CVIS
CMGT
CT
CENTCOM
CNARC
CTERR
COUNTER
CHIEF
CDC
CTR
CBW
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CY
CA
CM
CS
CWC
CN
CITES
CF
CWG
CIVS
CFIS
CASCC
CROATIA
CONS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CASA
COE
CJ
CHR
CODEL
CR
CBC
CACS
CHERTOFF
CAS
CONTROL
CONDITIONS
CONDOLEEZZA
CITEL
CV
CLINTON
CHG
CZ
CON
CTBT
CEN
CRIMES
COMMERCE
CLOK
CRISTINA
CFED
CARC
CND
CTM
CARICOM
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CBTH
CHINA
CSW
CICTE
CJUS
CYPRUS
CW
CAMBODIA
CENSUS
CIDA
CRIME
CBG
CBE
CMGMT
CAIO
CEC
CARSON
CPCTC
CEDAW
COMESA
CVIA
CWCM
CEA
COSI
CAPC
CGEN
COPUOS
CGOPRC
COETRD
CKGR
CFE
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CLO
CAFTA
CVISU
CHRISTOPHER
CACM
CIAT
CDB
CIS
CUL
CHAO
CNC
CL
CSEP
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAN
CAJC
CUIS
CONSULAR
CLMT
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CAC
CROS
CIO
CPUOS
CKOR
CVPR
CONG
CONTROLS
CEPTER
CVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGKIRF
CDCE
DPOL
DEMARCHE
DHS
DR
DA
DISENGAGEMENT
DEMOCRATIC
DEFENSE
DJ
DY
DARFUR
DHRF
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DO
DARFR
DOC
DRL
DK
DOJ
DTRA
DOMESTIC
DAC
DOD
DEAX
DIEZ
DEOC
DELTAVIOLENCE
DCOM
DMINE
DRC
DCG
DPKO
DOMESTICPOLITICS
DE
DB
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DHLAKAMA
DHSX
DS
DKEM
DAO
DCM
DANIEL
DEM
DAVID
DCRM
ETRD
EAGR
ETTC
EAID
ECON
EFIN
ECIN
EINV
ELAB
EAIR
ENRG
EPET
EWWT
ECPS
EIND
EMIN
ELTN
EC
ETMIN
EUC
EZ
ET
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EU
EUN
EG
EINT
ER
ECONOMICS
ES
EMS
ENIV
EEB
EN
ECE
ECOSOC
EK
ENVIRONMENT
EFIS
EI
EWT
ENGRD
ECPSN
EXIM
EIAD
ERIN
ECPC
EDEV
ENGY
ECTRD
EPA
ESTH
ECCT
EINVECON
ENGR
ERTD
EUR
EAP
EWWC
ELTD
EL
EXIMOPIC
EXTERNAL
ETRDEC
ESCAP
ECO
EGAD
ELNT
ECONOMIC
ENV
ETRN
EIAR
EUMEM
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EREL
ECOM
ECONETRDEAGRJA
ETCC
ETRG
ECONOMY
EMED
ETR
ENERG
EITC
EFINOECD
EURM
EENG
ERA
EXPORT
ENRD
ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC
EGEN
EBRD
EVIN
ETRAD
ECOWAS
EFTA
ECONETRDBESPAR
EGOVSY
EPIN
EID
ECONENRG
EDRC
ESENV
ETT
EB
ENER
ELTNSNAR
ECHEVARRIA
ETRC
EPIT
EDUC
ESA
EFI
ENRGY
ESCI
EE
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
ECIP
EIAID
EIVN
EBEXP
ESTN
EING
EGOV
ETRA
EPETEIND
ELAN
ETRDGK
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EPEC
ENVI
ELN
EAG
EPCS
EPRT
EPTED
ETRB
EUM
EAIDS
EFIC
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EAIDAR
ESF
EIDN
ELAM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
ECN
EDA
EXBS
EINTECPS
ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ
EPREL
EAC
EINVEFIN
ETA
EAGER
EINDIR
ECA
ECLAC
ELAP
EITI
EUCOM
ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID
EARG
ELDIN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFINTS
ECCP
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
EAIDNI
EFQ
ECOQKPKO
EGPHUM
EBUD
ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ
ENERGY
ELB
EINDETRD
EMI
ECONEFIN
EIB
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EIN
EFIM
ETIO
ELAINE
EMN
EATO
EWTR
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
EPPD
ENRGIZ
EISL
ESPINOSA
ELEC
EAIG
ESLCO
EUREM
ENTG
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
EFND
EPECO
EAIRECONRP
ERGR
ETRDPGOV
ECPN
ENRGMO
EPWR
EET
EAIS
EAGRE
EDUARDO
EAGRRP
EAIDPHUMPRELUG
EICN
ECONQH
EVN
EGHG
ELBR
EINF
EAIDHO
EENV
ETEX
ERNG
ED
FR
FREEDOM
FINREF
FJ
FI
FRELIMO
FOREIGN
FAA
FETHI
FAS
FTAA
FRB
FAO
FCS
FINANCE
FWS
FTA
FEMA
FDA
FLU
FRANCISCO
FBI
FORCE
FO
FARC
FK
FT
FCSC
FAC
FM
FMGT
FINV
FCSCEG
FARM
FERNANDO
FINR
FIN
FINE
FIR
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FCUL
FKLU
FMLN
FISO
FIXED
GM
GMUS
GG
GR
GE
GAZA
GT
GH
GZ
GJ
GLOBAL
GV
GABY
GOI
GA
GCC
GB
GY
GATT
GC
GUAM
GEORGE
GTIP
GOV
GOMEZ
GUTIERREZ
GL
GKGIC
GF
GU
GWI
GARCIA
GTMO
GN
GANGS
GIPNC
GAERC
GREGG
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
GERARD
GI
HK
HR
HUMANR
HUMAN
HO
HA
HUMANRIGHTS
HU
HHS
HIV
HUM
HRKAWC
HILLEN
HILLARY
HDP
HUMRIT
HSTC
HUMANITARIAN
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HURI
HL
HRETRD
HOURANI
HG
HARRIET
HESHAM
HI
HNCHR
HARRY
HRECON
HRC
HOSTAGES
HEBRON
HUMOR
HSWG
HYMPSK
HECTOR
HN
HYDE
HUD
HRPGOV
HIGHLIGHTS
ID
ILC
IS
IZ
ICAO
IMO
ITU
IR
IAEA
ICRC
IPROP
IT
IBRD
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ISSUES
ITRA
IV
IO
IGAD
IRAQ
IN
IMF
ICTR
ISCON
IADB
IDB
IEA
INR
IWC
ICCAT
ILO
INMARSAT
IOM
ICJ
IQ
ISPA
ITRD
IPR
INTELSAT
ISN
IAHRC
INTERNAL
IFAD
IICA
IHO
IRAN
IL
IRCE
IC
INTELLECTUAL
IRM
IE
ICTY
IDLI
IFO
ISCA
INF
INL
ISRAEL
INV
IBB
INFLUENZA
ISPL
ITER
ITIA
INRA
ISAF
IACHR
INTERPOL
IFR
IRS
INRB
IEF
ISAAC
ICC
INDO
IIP
IATTC
INAUGURATION
IND
INS
IZPREL
IACI
IEFIN
INNP
ILAB
IA
IMTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
IFIN
IRAJ
IX
ICG
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IACW
IK
IUCN
IZEAID
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
ISO
ICES
IRMO
ITPGOV
IQNV
IMSO
IRDB
IMET
INCB
IFRC
JA
JO
JP
JM
JCIC
JOHN
JE
JEFFERY
JS
JUS
JN
JOHNNIE
JAMES
JKUS
JOSEPH
JML
JAWAD
JSRP
JIMENEZ
JOSE
JKJUS
JK
JAPAN
KMDR
KPAO
KPKO
KJUS
KCRM
KGHG
KFRD
KWMN
KDEM
KTFN
KHIV
KGIC
KIDE
KSCA
KNNP
KHUM
KIPR
KSUM
KISL
KIRF
KCOR
KRCM
KPAL
KWBG
KN
KS
KOMC
KSEP
KFLU
KPWR
KTIA
KSEO
KMPI
KHLS
KICC
KSTH
KMCA
KVPR
KPRM
KE
KU
KZ
KFLO
KSAF
KTIP
KTEX
KBCT
KOCI
KOLY
KOR
KAWC
KACT
KUNR
KTDB
KSTC
KLIG
KSKN
KNN
KCFE
KCIP
KGHA
KHDP
KPOW
KUNC
KDRL
KV
KPREL
KCRS
KPOL
KRVC
KRIM
KGIT
KWIR
KT
KIRC
KOMO
KRFD
KUWAIT
KG
KFIN
KSCI
KTFIN
KFTN
KGOV
KPRV
KSAC
KGIV
KCRIM
KPIR
KSOC
KBIO
KW
KGLB
KMWN
KPO
KFSC
KSEAO
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KREC
KFPC
KUNH
KCSA
KMRS
KNDP
KR
KICCPUR
KPPAO
KCSY
KTBT
KCIS
KNEP
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KNNB
KGCC
KINR
KPOP
KMFO
KENV
KNAR
KVIR
KDRG
KDMR
KFCE
KNAO
KDEN
KGCN
KICA
KIMMITT
KMCC
KLFU
KMSG
KSEC
KUM
KCUL
KMNP
KSMT
KCOM
KOMCSG
KSPR
KPMI
KRAD
KIND
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KTER
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KITA
KTSC
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KJUST
KMIG
KLAB
KTFR
KSEI
KSTT
KAPO
KSTS
KLSO
KWNN
KPOA
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KBTS
KWWW
KY
KJRE
KPAOKMDRKE
KCRCM
KSCS
KWMNCI
KESO
KWUN
KPLS
KIIP
KEDEM
KPAOY
KRIF
KGICKS
KREF
KTRD
KFRDSOCIRO
KTAO
KJU
KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW
KEN
KO
KNEI
KEMR
KKIV
KEAI
KWAC
KRCIM
KWCI
KFIU
KWIC
KCORR
KOMS
KNNO
KPAI
KBWG
KTTB
KTBD
KTIALG
KILS
KFEM
KTDM
KESS
KNUC
KPA
KOMCCO
KCEM
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KWN
KERG
KLTN
KALM
KCCP
KSUMPHUM
KREL
KGH
KLIP
KTLA
KAWK
KWMM
KVRP
KVRC
KAID
KSLG
KDEMK
KX
KIF
KNPR
KCFC
KFTFN
KTFM
KPDD
KCERS
KMOC
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KDRM
KEPREL
KBTR
KEDU
KNP
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KISLPINR
KTPN
KA
KJUSTH
KPIN
KDEV
KTDD
KAKA
KFRP
KWNM
KTSD
KINL
KJUSKUNR
KWWMN
KECF
KWBC
KPRO
KVBL
KOM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KEDM
KFLD
KLPM
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KM
KWMNCS
KAWS
KLAP
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KPFO
KDP
KCMR
KRMS
KNPT
KNNNP
KTIAPARM
KDTB
KNUP
KPGOV
KNAP
KNNC
KUK
KSRE
KREISLER
KIVP
KQ
KTIAEUN
KPALAOIS
KRM
KISLAO
KWM
KFLOA
LE
LU
LH
LA
LG
LO
LY
LANTERN
LI
LABOR
LORAN
LTTE
LT
LAS
LAB
LAW
LVPR
LARREA
LEBIK
LAURA
LS
LOTT
LOVE
LR
LEON
LAVIN
LGAT
LV
LAOS
LOG
LN
LB
MOPS
MO
MARR
ML
MASS
MZ
MR
MNUC
MX
MV
MCC
MY
MEDIA
MTCRE
MG
MCAP
MOPPS
MP
MI
MK
MC
MD
MA
MU
MASC
MW
MT
MEPP
MN
MTCR
MH
MEPI
MIL
MNUCPTEREZ
MMAR
MICHAEL
MUNC
MDC
MPOS
MONUC
MAR
MGMT
MAS
MEPN
MENDIETA
MARIA
MONTENEGRO
MOOPS
MSG
MARITIME
MURRAY
MUKASEY
MOTO
MCA
MFO
MEX
MRSEC
MMED
MACP
MAAR
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MAPP
MGT
MARQUEZ
MANUEL
MNUR
MCCAIN
MF
MOHAMMAD
MOHAMED
MNU
MFA
MILITANTS
MINORITIES
MTS
MLS
MILI
MIAH
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MARAD
MNVC
MINURSO
MNUCUN
MIK
MARK
MBM
MPP
MILITARY
MAPS
MNUK
MILA
MTRRE
MACEDONIA
MICHEL
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
MARRGH
MRCRE
MTRE
MORALES
MAP
MCTRE
MHUC
MOPSGRPARM
MOROCCO
MCAPS
NL
NU
NS
NI
NPT
NATO
NO
NG
NATEU
NSF
NZ
NAS
NP
NDP
NLD
NGO
NEPAD
NAFTA
NASA
NEA
NGUYEN
NIH
NK
NIPP
NONE
NR
NANCY
NEGROPONTE
NRR
NERG
NSSP
NSG
NSFO
NE
NATSIOS
NFSO
NATIONAL
NTDB
NT
NCD
NTSB
NRC
NELSON
NAM
NH
NPG
NEC
NSC
NFATC
NMFS
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NARC
NCCC
NA
NC
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NEY
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NW
NARCOTICS
NORAD
NOAA
NON
NTTC
NKNNP
NMNUC
NUMBERING
ODIP
OIIP
OPRC
OSCE
OREP
OTRA
OPET
OSCI
OVIP
OECD
OCII
OUALI
OPDC
OEXC
OFPD
OPIC
OFDP
OPCW
OECV
OAS
OM
OMIG
ODAG
OPREP
ORA
OIC
OEXCSCULKPAO
OIG
OASS
OFFICIALS
ORTA
OSAC
OIL
OIE
OEXP
OPEC
OPDAT
OMS
OES
OHI
OMAR
OCRA
OFSO
OCBD
OSTA
OAO
ONA
OTP
ORC
OAU
OXEC
OA
ODPC
OPDP
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OASC
OSHA
OPCD
OTR
OPPI
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OSTRA
OASCC
OBSP
OFDA
OPICEAGR
OIM
OGAC
OTA
OTRAORP
OPPC
OESC
OCEA
OVP
ON
OPAD
OTAR
OCS
ODC
OTRD
OCED
OSD
ORUE
OREG
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PGOV
PREL
PREF
PL
PM
PHSA
PE
PARM
PINS
PK
PUNE
PO
PALESTINIAN
PU
PBTS
PROP
PTBS
POL
POLI
PA
PGOVZI
POLMIL
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLM
PD
POLITICS
POLICY
PAS
PMIL
PINT
PNAT
PV
PKO
PPOL
PERSONS
PING
PBIO
PH
PETR
PARMS
PRES
PCON
PETERS
PRELBR
PT
PLAB
PP
PAK
PDEM
PKPA
PSOCI
PF
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PSOE
PELOSI
PROPERTY
PGOVPREL
PARP
PRL
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PBOV
PAO
PKK
PROV
PHSAK
PHUMPREL
PROTECTION
PGOVBL
PSI
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PUM
PRELKPKO
PATTY
PSOC
PRIVATIZATION
PRELSP
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PREC
PAIGH
PROG
PSHA
PARK
PETER
POG
PHUS
PPREL
PS
PTERPREL
PRELPGOV
POV
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN
PWBG
PMAR
PREM
PAR
PNR
PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO
PARMIR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PARTM
PN
PRE
PTE
PY
POLUN
PPEL
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PIRF
PGOVPM
PBST
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PRM
PRELKPAOIZ
PGVO
PERL
PGOC
PAGR
PMIN
PHUMR
PVIP
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PINL
PKPAL
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PHAS
PODC
PRHUM
PHUMA
PREO
PPA
PEPFAR
PGO
PRGOV
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PKFK
PEPR
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PGOVPHUMKPAO
PRELECON
PINOCHET
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PRELC
PREK
PHUME
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVPZ
PGOVKCRM
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PRELSW
PAHO
PEDRO
PRELA
PASS
PPAO
PGPV
PNUM
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PRFE
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PHUMPGOV
PVOV
PHSAPREL
PROLIFERATION
PENA
PRELTBIOBA
PIN
PRELL
PGOVPTER
PHAM
PHYTRP
PTEL
PTERPGOV
PHARM
PROTESTS
PRELAF
PKBL
PRELKPAO
PKNP
PARMP
PHUML
PFOV
PERM
PUOS
PRELGOV
PHUMPTER
PARAGRAPH
PERURENA
PBTSEWWT
PCI
PETROL
PINSO
PINSCE
PQL
PEREZ
PBS
RS
REFUGEES
RW
RP
RELFREE
RO
REGIONAL
RIGHTS
REACTION
REPORT
RU
RENAMO
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RM
REFUGEE
REL
RELATIONS
ROW
RREL
REGION
RATIFICATION
RBI
RICE
ROOD
RODENAS
RUIZ
RODHAM
ROBERT
RGY
ROY
REUBEN
RELIGIOUS
RUEHZO
RODRIGUEZ
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
RSO
RCMP
REO
ROSS
RPTS
RENE
REID
RUPREL
RMA
RI
REMON
RPEL
RFE
RFIN
RA
RAFAEL
RAY
RUS
RPREL
ROBERTG
RECIN
RAMONTEIJELO
SNAR
SP
SN
SMIG
SL
SOCI
SU
SG
SF
SENV
SZ
SOE
SCUL
SY
SO
SR
SYR
SE
SA
SW
SIPDIS
SCIENCE
SADC
SI
SCI
SOCIETY
SC
SAARC
STR
SECRETARY
SANC
SSH
ST
SNA
SGWI
SEP
SOCIS
SETTLEMENTS
SPECIALIST
SK
SHUM
START
STET
SCVL
SREF
SCHUL
SCUIL
SYRIA
SECURITY
SPCE
SYAI
SMIL
SOWGC
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SNAP
SPP
SCUD
SOM
SPECI
SMIGBG
SENC
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SENVSXE
SASIAIN
SACU
SENVSPL
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCOI
SCRS
SILVASANDE
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SM
SNARKTFN
SAAD
SD
SAN
SIPRNET
STATE
SENS
SUBJECT
SFNV
SECSTATE
SSA
SPCVIS
SOI
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SPTER
SKSAF
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SANR
SPSTATE
SMITH
SCOM
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
SNARM
SIPDI
SCPR
SNIG
SELAB
SULLIVAN
SENVENV
SECDEF
SOLIC
SOIC
SPAS
SASC
SOSI
SEC
SEN
SENVCASCEAIDID
TU
TH
TW
TSPA
TRGY
TPHY
TBIO
TIFA
TS
TZ
TX
TSPL
TT
TK
TC
TINT
TERFIN
TERRORISM
TIP
TURKEY
TI
TECHNOLOGY
TNGD
TRSY
TRAFFICKING
TOPEC
TPSL
TP
TD
TR
TA
TIO
TREATY
TO
THPY
TECH
TRADE
TPSA
TG
TAGS
TF
TRAD
THKSJA
TVBIO
TNDG
TN
TBIOZK
TWI
TV
TWL
TRT
TWRO
TSRY
TTPGOV
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TRBIO
TL
TPKO
TIA
TGRY
TSPAM
TREL
TNAR
TBI
TFIN
TPHYPA
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
TPP
TE
THANH
TJ
TBKIO
UNGA
USUN
UN
UG
UNSC
UK
UP
US
UNCTAD
UNVIE
UNHRC
USTR
UNAMA
UNCRIME
UNESCO
UV
UNDP
UNHCR
UNCSD
UNCHR
UZ
USAID
UNEP
UNO
UNPUOS
UY
UNDC
UNCITRAL
UNAUS
UNCND
UA
UNMIK
USTDA
USEU
USDA
UNICEF
UR
UNFICYP
USNC
USTRRP
UNODC
UNRWA
UNOMIG
USTRPS
USAU
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
UNFPA
UNSCE
USSC
UGA
UEU
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNION
UNCLASSIFIED
USPS
UNA
UMIK
USOAS
UNMOVIC
UNFA
UNAIDS
UNCHC
USGS
UNSE
UNRCR
UNTERR
USG
UE
UAE
UNWRA
UNCSW
UNSCR
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNPAR
UNC
UB
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNREST
UNHR
USPTO
UNFCYP
USCG
UNIDROIT
UNSCD
UPU
UNBRO
UNECE
USTRUWR
UNCC
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
VM
VE
VT
VETTING
VN
VZ
VIS
VC
VTPREL
VIP
VTEAID
VTEG
VOA
VA
VTIZ
VANG
VISIT
VO
VENZ
VAT
VI
VEPREL
VEN
WFP
WTO
WHO
WTRO
WBG
WMO
WIPO
WA
WI
WSIS
WHA
WCL
WE
WMN
WEBZ
WS
WAR
WZ
WMD
WW
WILLIAM
WEET
WAEMU
WM
WWBG
WWT
WWARD
WITH
WMDT
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WALTER
WRTO
WB
WHTI
WBEG
WCI
WEF
WAKI
WHOA
WGC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07TOKYO645, The Japan Economic Scope - February 9, 2007
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07TOKYO645.
| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07TOKYO645 | 2007-02-14 08:34 | 2011-08-25 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Tokyo |
VZCZCXRO7061
RR RUEHFK RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0645/01 0450834
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140834Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0658
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 5290
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 9856
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 9290
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 2314
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 3333
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 000645
SIPDIS
PARIS PLEASE PASS TO USOEDC
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON JA ZO EAGR
SUBJECT: The Japan Economic Scope - February 9, 2007
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
¶1. (SBU) Table of Contents
¶3. Inbound FDI Negative for 2006, Japan Likely to Miss Five-Year
FDI Target
¶4. Keidanren Chairman Visits Australia, Wants an FTA
¶5. Japanese Reaction to U.S. WTO Subsidy Case Against China
¶6. The New Reg Reform Council Launched
¶7. EMIN Meets Niigata and Kanagawa Prefecture Governors
¶8. Japan, Central Asian Countries Discuss Improving
Infrastructure in the Region
¶9. M&As Continue to Expand in Kyushu
¶10. METI Tasks Independent Study Group To Review Security
Criteria for Investment
¶11. Opposition Takes Another Swipe at Government Over "White
Collar Exemption" Bill
¶12. Embassy Outreach on Bilateral Economic Relationship in
Niigata and Ibaraki
¶13. Former CEFP Member Yoshikawa Talks Critically about Japan's
Economy
¶14. Japanese Customs Cracks Down on Counterfeits Imported for
Individual Use
¶15. Agriculture: Japan's Farmers to Get Their Voice in
Washington
¶16. Last Chance for Japanese Farmers?
¶17. Holy Cow, Beef Is Expensive!
¶18. Japan's 32nd Case of BSE May Raise Questions
¶19. Ban on U.S. Potatoes Lifted
¶20. No Economic Impact from Avian Flu in Okayama--Yet
¶21. Ports: Cost Reductions, Efficiency Boost Planned for Hanshin
Super Core Port
¶22. Civair: Japan-Canada Aviation Talks Conclude
¶23. MLIT Hires U.S. Consulting Firm for Basic Study on Airports
and Competitiveness
¶24. JAL's Plan with Eight Percent Layoffs and Pay Cuts
¶25. Bid-Rigging Post Mortem: Wakayama Wants More National Money
for Road Construction
¶2. (U) This cable contains the Japan Economic Scope from February
9, 2007.
¶3. (SBU) Inbound FDI Negative for 2006, Japan Likely to Miss
Five-Year FDI Target
--------------------
In 2006, Japan experienced a net outflow of foreign direct
investment by non-residents for the first time in 17 years.
According to Ministry of Finance figures, total FDI inflow to
Japan by non-residents was 4.93 trillion yen ($42.5 billion), up
almost 50% from 2005. Unfortunately, disinvestment by non-
Japanese investors in the same period was 5.67 trillion yen or
$49.1 billion. The difference was a net outflow of FDI of 740
billion yen ($6.6 billion.)
The biggest contributing factor was the sale by British firm
Vodafone of its Japan operations to Softbank in April 2006 for
$16.3 billion. The same month, General Motors Corporation sold a
17 percent stake in Suzuki Motors for $1.98 billion. These two
deals contributed to a net outflow of $14.8 billion in the month
of April 2006 alone. Without these two large disinvestments,
Japan's FDI flows in the first 11 months of 2006 would have been
a respectable $11.68 billion, up from $2.8 billion in 2005 and
$7.8 billion in 2004.
As a result of these disappointing numbers, Japan will almost
certainly fail to meet the target set by former Prime Minister
Koizumi of doubling the nation's stock of FDI from its 2001 level
within five years. In nominal terms that target translates into
13.2 trillion yen ($119 billion) of FDI by the end of 2006. With
only one month's figures left to be booked, Japan's year-end
stock of FDI likely will be only about 11 trillion yen.
See the attached Excel document for MOF's month-by-month figures
for FDI flows.
¶4. (SBU) Keidanren Chairman Visits Australia, Wants an FTA
TOKYO 00000645 002 OF 009
--------------------
No talks have started yet since their launch was announced, but
the Japanese continue to discuss the merits of a free trade -- or
economic partnership -- agreement with Australia.
Fujio Mitarai, Chairman of the Japan Business Federation
(Keidanren), visited Australia the first week in February,
meeting with government officials including Prime Minister John
Howard and his counterparts in the Australian business
community. Mitarai underscored Keidanren's support for a
deal. He pointed to the difficulties of getting Japan's
agricultural sector on board and suggested that one way forward
would be to phase in tariff reductions over a 10-20 year period.
For his part, according to press reports, Howard emphasized that
he wanted to see key agricultural products on the table in the
negotiations. A MOFA official we talked to February 8 told us
that Howard's strong public line underscores how "clever" he has
been in handling the launch of the talks. Note, the MOFA
official said, that Howard called for "some movement" on
agriculture. The GOJ expects the Australians to be flexible when
the talks begin, and "some" more accurately translates into not
much.
For more on Keidanren's views about a Japan-Australia FTA, click
here.
¶5. (SBU) Japanese Reaction to U.S. WTO Subsidy Case Against
China
-----
The Japanese press has covered extensively the U.S. decision late
last week to file a subsidy case against China. After the
announcement, Japanese Trade Minister Amari indicated Japan may
join the case as a third party. He told reporters that U.S.
Trade Representative Susan Schwab had asked him last month if
Japan would be interested in joining the United States in filing
the complaint together.
Consultations with the Japanese on the possibility for a joint-
filing had been on-going for several months prior to the February
2 action. Noteworthy among these discussions was a series of
working level meetings between USTR officials and their MOFA/METI
counterparts to identify common ground for joint-action -- the
process of which began with an exchange of information on related
areas of concern last May.
According to Kyodo news, however, Amari has hinted that Japan
would likely take a "softer" third party approach, because many
Japanese companies run joint ventures with Chinese partners and
capital. A Nikkei editorial noted that the United States had
moved quickly since its December Strategic Dialogue meetings with
the Chinese to take a hard-line approach against Beijing. In
part, the newspaper notes, USTR is compelled to show a tough
posture to satisfy Congress in advance of a request to extend
Trade Promotion Authority.
Click here to read Ambassador's Schwab's remarks and click here
to read a recent press release.
¶6. The New Reg Reform Council Launched
--------------------
Japan's new Council on Regulatory Reform was officially
established in January, taking over the mandate of the Council on
the Promotion of Regulatory Reform and the Office of Trade and
Investment Ombudsman.
Chaired by Takao Kusakari, its 15 members include eight experts
who served in the previous Council. In its first meeting on
January 31, the Council identified some key issues reflecting
Prime Minister Abe's priorities: promote innovation, raise
productivity; build an open economy and society; realize high
standards of living; revitalize regions; and realize a society
with "a second chance." It is not yet clear, however, how these
goals will translate into deregulation policies.
The Council is expected to issue a report in late May, and the
Cabinet will adopt a new Three-year Regulatory Reform Plan soon
TOKYO 00000645 003 OF 009
after.
See Tokyo 387 and 154 for more details. Also, for more
information in English click here and for more information in
Japanese click here.
¶7. (SBU) Meets Niigata and Kanagawa Prefecture Governors
--------------------
On February 1 in Niigata and February 5 in Yokohama, EMIN met
respectively with the governors of Niigata and Kanagawa
prefectures.
Although their current economic situations differ (Kanagawa's is
booming, becoming a national center for biotechnology and R&D,
while stereotypically rural Niigata barely has been able to stay
abreast of the national average growth rate), both governors
pressed their case to host jointly the next G-8 summit in 2008.
Niigata and Yokohama have filed a joint application to host the
summit -- foreign and finance ministers would meet on the west
coast in Niigata, while Yokohama would receive the leaders'
meeting. They both see Kyoto as their main competition. While
they would welcome the prestige that accompanies hosting a G-8
summit meeting, Kanagawa governor Matsuzawa was explicit that
wining such a bid comes with high costs: the prefectures largely
are expected to pick up the enormous fees for providing police
and security protection. Given the recent trend for summits to
be located in remote resort areas, governor Matsuzawa was less
than wholeheartedly enthusiastic about securing victory.
¶8. (SBU) Central Asian Countries Discuss Improving
Infrastructure in the Region
--------------------
The Japanese government held its Second Tokyo Dialogue on Central
Asia Plus Japan on January 30 during which representatives from
Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan
as well as officials from Japanese industry and government
discussed regional cooperation on water resources, electric power
and the diversification of Central Asia's energy supply routes.
The Central Asian countries are seeking non-European customers
for their energy and so have turned to Japan for its financial
and technological cooperation to develop and modernize their
respective infrastructures. They also want more oil and gas
exploration to increase production and export.
For Japan, Central Asia is attractive from an energy standpoint
but poses geographical problems such as the lack of sea access
and the volatile southern border with Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Success for Japanese business and government will require a long-
term commitment in the region, but that will require political
stability and transparent decision-making processes.
Central Asian countries stand ready to turn to Russia or China if
Japan hesitates, despite their heavy-handed influence in the
region.
Japan Agency for Natural Resources and Energy Petroleum and
Natural Gas Division Deputy Director Kazuhiro Iwatani emphasized
Japan's need to diversify supply away from the Middle East and
called on the central Asian countries to cooperate on improving
the investment climate to meet Japan's efforts to provide funding,
technology and human resources.
Former Japanese Ambassador to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan Akio
Kawato expressed his disappointment that the region's supply of
uranium was not discussed during the dialogue and proposed that
nuclear power plants be built in the region. He also expressed
concern over the lack of security in the southern regions
bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan and suggested that Japan send
a peace-keeping force to the area.
¶9. (SBU) M&As Continue to Expand in Kyushu
--------------------
Kyushu is no exception to a recent M&A boom in Japan, which
reached a record high in 2006.
According to M&A consultancy Recof Corp, the value of M&As
TOKYO 00000645 004 OF 009
involving Kyushu, including Okinawa, firms nearly quadrupled to
Yen 324.8 billion ($2.7 billion) in 2006 from Yen 83.5 billion
($696 million) in 2005.
The number of M&A transactions (140 cases) in the region in 2006,
also a record, was up about 7 percent from the previous year.
A Recof official noted that a call for structural reform,
succession problems in small-medium companies, a declining
birthrate and aging population, and a renewed perspective of M&A
by top management are among the major factors behind this upsurge.
The official predicts the number of M&As to continue to increase
in Kyushu, with growth particularly strong in Okinawa.
In addition, he expects that heavily regulated sectors, including
financial and transportation services, will maintain a
significant role in M&A activity throughout the region.
¶10. (SBU) METI Tasks Independent Study Group To Review Security
Criteria for Investment
METI has established an outside study group to recommend possible
revisions to rules governing which sectors require prior
notification and government approval for foreign direct
investment.
The group's report, due in April, will feed into formal
recommendations from the ministry about whether changes are
needed to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Law.
The December announcement of the study group's formation
coincided with a call from Keidanren for stricter national
security review of inward M&A, but METI insists the timing is
coincidental.
The chairman of the study group told the Embassy he did not
expect his group to recommend significant new restrictions on
inward FDI.
For more information see Tokyo 454.
¶10. (U) Opposition Takes Another Swipe at Government Over "White
Collar Exemption" Bill
--------------------
In a TV Asahi news roundtable devoted to measures to address
Japan's growing "social gaps" and improve the nation's pension
system, a Japan Communist Party Diet member criticized the Abe
Administration for drafting a bill (since withdrawn) to decrease
the number of workers eligible for overtime pay "under pressure"
from the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), the ACCJ, and the
U.S. Government.
In fact, reducing the eligibility for overtime for white-collar
workers earning above nine million yen ($75,000) annually is one
of the United States' labor mobility recommendations at the bi-
annual Investment Initiative talks.
Another commentator, reflecting negative press coverage of the
draft bill, described it as leading to a "no-overtime-pay" system
rather than a "go-home-on-time" system.
¶11. (U) Embassy Outreach on Bilateral Economic Relationship in
Niigata and Ibaraki
-------------------
EMIN recently had the opportunity to speak to groups in Mito and
Niigata, two large cities north of Tokyo on the bilateral
economic and trade relationship.
His basic message was that the U.S.-Japan economic relationship
is in pretty good shape compared to that 10 or 20 years ago, but
we should not be complacent and instead continue to push for
reform and a further opening of Japan to foreign investment,
goods and services.
He acknowledged U.S. and Japanese industry's appeal for a
bilateral FTA, cautioned that further reform, especially of
Japan's agricultural sector, is first necessary, and asked his
audiences if Japan is ready to undertake such reform.
TOKYO 00000645 005 OF 009
U.S. hopes and views for civair, regulatory reform and postal
privatization were also reviewed.
¶12. (SBU) Former CEFP Member Yoshikawa Talks Critically about
Japan's Economy
---------------
University of Tokyo Professor Hiroshi Yoshikawa had both praise
and criticism for the current state of the Japanese economy at a
lunch seminar hosted by the Maison franco japonaise on February 2.
He spoke glowingly of the years he spent as a private sector
member of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Council for
Economic and Fiscal Policy (CEFP), noting in particular Koizumi's
leadership of the Council and the fact that the former prime
minister had attended nearly all of the 200 CEFP meetings during
his tenure, which added greatly to the Council's effectiveness.
Yoshikawa remains concerned over Japan's low consumption rate and
its high youth unemployment rate--about 10 percent for people
between the ages of 15 and 24. One in three young people works
only part-time, he said, and over 700,000 are classified as NEET,
a British term meaning "not in employment, education or
training."
Yoshikawa raised Japan's public debt-to-GDP ratio of 150 percent,
the worst among OECD countries, and compared Japan to Great
Britain after WWII, whose public debt-to-GDP ratio at the time
was 200 percent. Yoshikawa described two groups of thought on
shrinking the ratio, one headed by Hidenao Nakagawa that
advocates achieving primary balance, and the other headed by
Kaoru Yosano backing an increase in the growth rate; Yoshikawa
places himself in the second group.
Another concern is the Japanese government's growing social
security obligations due to the aging population. Yoshikawa
pointed out, however, that Japan's capital expenditures and
technological progress historically have had a much greater
impact on GDP than labor, and he gave two examples: During 1955-
70 Japan's labor force grew only one percent while real GDP grew
9.6 percent--similar to China's present GDP growth rate. Not
quite as spectacular but not insignificant either, Japan's labor
force again grew only one percent during 1975-90 while real GDP
grew 4.6 percent.
Yoshikawa noted that raising the consumption tax would be
necessary to fund social security and ruled out increasing income
tax, because a large number of Japanese successfully avoid paying
the tax, as well as increasing corporate tax, because corporate
tax in Japan is already high compared to other financial centers.
Yoshikawa commented that Tokyo should worry more about competing
with Hong Kong and Singapore to become a world financial center
than New York and London and said pointedly that Japan is not
open enough. In particular, he criticized Tokyo traffic, the
distance from the city center to Narita Airport, and the lack of
adequate English signs.
Yoshikawa also took the University of Tokyo to task. Despite
its ranking by the London Times as 11th or 12th in the world, he
said non-Japanese professors make up a paltry one percent of its
teaching ranks, unheard of in most other top-ranked schools.
¶13. (U) Japanese Customs Cracks Down on Counterfeits Imported
for Individual Use
------------------
Japanese Customs officials announced this week that they will
step up inspections of luxury goods imported by individuals to
intercept more counterfeits.
In mid-2006, Japan's Customs began examining more name-brand
goods that individuals were bringing in, including packages
addressed to individuals. They found that more and more fakes
are being brought into Japan for resale under the guise of
personal use, which is still legal in Japan. Most of the goods
were purses and wallets and more than 80 percent of the
counterfeits came from China.
METI and the IP Strategy Headquarters have told the Embassy that
TOKYO 00000645 006 OF 009
they back bills to outlaw individual imports of fakes and to ban
advertising of counterfeits in online auctions, an increasingly
popular way to bring in fakes.
Coach told Embassy during a recent visit that it is now the
number two luxury brand in Japan in dollar terms after Louis
Vuitton.
¶14. (SBU) Agriculture: Japan's Farmers to Get Their Voice in
Washington
----------
Japan's Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA), the
country's chief farmers' lobbying arm, is dispatching a senior
official to Washington on February 11 to sign a contract with a
well known law firm to represent its interests in the United
States better. During a meeting at JA headquarters February 8,
Executive Director Shigeo Fuji told us the Japanese Embassy was
making arrangements for his visit.
Fuji would not tell us which law firm the organization had
selected to represent it, but the firm enjoys a high lobbying
profile. Fuji said JA would employ a full time representative at
the firm to do its bidding. JA is famous in Japan for its
unbending opposition to expanded agricultural trade, either
through the Doha Round or in Japan's bilateral negotiations,
including the one set to begin with Australia.
¶15. (SBU) Last Chance for Japanese Farmers?
--------------------
The second Task Force meeting under the auspices of the Council
of Economic and Fiscal Policy to review economic partnership
agreements and agriculture reforms met on February 7.
According to the Japan Agriculture News, the group discussed mid-
and long-term strategies for forging partnership agreements.
A source we have on the Task Force told us that its function is
in part to provide the "naiatsu," or domestic pressure, on
Japan's farm sector to get it to reform.
According to our source, absent another round of significant
agricultural reforms -- following up on last year's reforms which
included the introduction of direct payments and measures
intended to promote farm consolidation -- Japan's farm sector
will begin to diminish.
Our source, an agricultural economist, sees a future for Japanese
farmers, but only if they become much more productive.
¶16. (U) Holy Cow, Beef Is Expensive!
--------------------
On February 5, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and
Fisheries (MAFF) reported that retail prices for domestically
produced beef are at their highest level in three and a half
years.
Retail prices for short loin beef averaged $26.76/lb (or 718 yen
per 100 grams). Import restrictions on U.S. beef, high feed
prices, and strong demand for sukiyaki and other winter dishes
are responsible for the high prices.
In the United States, the USDA-reported wholesale price for a
similar cut was $4.67/lb in the same period.
¶17. (U) Japan's 32nd Case of BSE May Raise Questions
On February 5, 2007, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor, and
Welfare (MHLW) announced Japan's 32nd case of BSE (mad cow).
Japan banned the use of ruminant meat and bone meal (MBM) in
cattle feed on September 18, 2001, and a few weeks later extended
the feed ban to all animals.
The infected cow was born in August 2001, potentially raising
questions about the enforcement of Japan's feed rules.
Meat from the Hokkaido-born Holstein cow was destroyed and did
not enter commerce.
TOKYO 00000645 007 OF 009
Japan remains the only country in Asia that is officially
recognized as having BSE.
¶18. (U) Ban on U.S. Potatoes Lifted
--------------------
On Wednesday the Government of Japan agreed to lift the re-
instated ban on U.S. grown potatoes. This action will allow
fresh U.S. potatoes to come to Japan under a strict protocol that
was agreed to about a year ago.
Under the protocol, fresh potatoes must come from approved states
that were visited by MAFF, be cleaned in the United States before
shipping, sent inside special bags inside of a special sealed
container, inspected upon import and sent directly to an approved
controlled potato chip manufacturing facility near the port, to
be made into potato chips.
There are numerous other measures to mitigate potential risks
such as the washing of containers after loading, special double
doors in the chipping facility, and special measures for
disposing of peels and waste material.
The protocol also includes a seasonal restriction, allowing
shipping between February 1 and June 30. This season restriction
has nothing to do with phytosanitary concerns and was meant to
appease Japanese domestic growers who do want to limit access to
the fresh potato market.
Domestic growers are nonetheless opposed to the protocol, even
though the Japanese chip manufacturers claim that the domestic
industry is not able to supply them with enough potatoes to keep
their factories running throughout the year.
Potatoes from the United States were imported for the first time
in 2006 under this protocol until a new pest, white cyst nematode,
was found in Idaho. At that time Japan immediately banned all
shipments of U.S. potatoes.
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has been
working closely with MAFF over the past year to provide
information necessary to lift the ban. The lifting of the ban on
Wednesday excluded potatoes from Idaho.
¶19. (SBU) No Economic Impact from Avian Flu in Okayama -- Yet
--------------------
According to Japanese government officials, the January 27
discovery in Okayama Prefecture of Japan's seventh case of H5N1
Avian Influenza has not adversely affected poultry prices or
sales volumes to date. All 12,000 chickens in the affected farm
were culled and disinfected within three days. The same
officials suspect the source of the infections to be migratory
birds from Mongolia and northern China.
Rapidly setting up emergency disaster headquarters in Okayama,
local officials appear to have learned from bitter experiences in
Kyoto in 2004, when the spread of the virus went unreported for
more than a week, resulting in a massive cull, a decline in
consumer confidence, and the suicide of a poultry farm owner.
Local MAFF offices conducted inspections throughout the region
and directed several stores to remove inappropriate signs touting
"no Okayama eggs or meat" and "no Miyazaki products" from their
stores. Post is reporting separately to EST Tokyo on the local
AI situation.
¶20. Ports: Cost Reductions, Efficiency Boost Planned for Hanshin
Super Core Port (U)
-------------------
As part of the GOJ Ministry of Finance (MOF) 52.4 billion yen
($437 million) 'Super Core Port' project, the Hanshin (Osaka-
Kobe) port will be dredged to a new depth of 16 meters by the end
of fiscal 2008 in order to facilitate super-large ships in Osaka
Bay.
Operation costs at the Hanshin port will be cut by 30 percent and
TOKYO 00000645 008 OF 009
cargo loading/unloading time will be shortened in fiscal 2009
through enhanced coordination of facilities and a software
upgrade.
The ports of Osaka Bay have been developed in a chaotic
bureaucratic hodgepodge of jurisdictions, which has served to
throttle efficiency in port services and reduce the
competitiveness of the regional economy.
Last September, regional leaders launched a working group
designed to promote the comprehensive linkage of the four
international trading ports of Kobe, Osaka, Amagasaki-
Nishinomiya-Ashiya and Sakai-Semboku.
Under the project, the four Osaka Bay ports will be treated as a
single port, and tonnage dues paid by foreign vessels will be
unified and streamlined starting in JFY 2007.
¶21. (U) Civair: Japan-Canada Aviation Talks Conclude
--------------------
MLIT announced on its web page that bilateral aviation talks with
Canada were concluded in Ottawa in January. The bilateral
negotiations were lead by Tadashi Shimura, Director of
International Airport Division, MLIT and by Nadir Patel from
Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
The talks gave seven new passenger flights to each side for
service to/from airports other than Tokyo, such as Osaka. Also,
Canadian airlines will change the current aircraft to a larger
aircraft (B-777) for the existing routes out of Tokyo because the
unit used to measure the air traffic will now be measured by
number of flights rather than a coefficient unit as in the past.
Unlimited flight numbers will be permitted for code shares with
third country airlines as well.
Japan and Canada have had aviation relation since 1955 and JAL
and Air Canada (code shared with ANA) fly seven flights per week
between Narita-Vancouver, Toronto-Narita, Vancouver-Narita, and
Vancouver-Kansai. The passenger numbers between the two
countries were 790,000 and 796,000 in FY2004 and FY2005
respectively.
¶22. (SBU) MLIT Hires U.S. Consulting Firm for Basic Study on
Airports and Competitiveness
--------------------
We recently learned that the Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) of
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) has been
conducting a basic study on airports' roles and competitiveness
in other countries.
JCAB engaged a U.S. consulting firm in August 2006 to survey
foreign airports on: roles of multiple airports in metropolitan
areas and international competitiveness of those airports.
Studies were conducted in cities such as London, Paris and New
York for the first topic and Dubai and Istanbul for the second.
As a part this study, an ACCJ member told us that the U.S.
consulting firm has reached out to foreign airlines about how
they could run airport operations better on behalf of MLIT.
The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2007, but it
is yet to be determined how or if the GOJ will implement the
final report.
¶23. (U) JAL's Plan with Eight Percent Layoffs and Pay Cuts
--------------------
Japan Airlines announced a medium-term corporate business plan
for the four years FY2007 to March 2011 on February 6.
Through reduction of 4,300 employees, an early retirement
allowance program, executive pay cuts of 45-60 percent, a general
review of its domestic and international routes, and introducing
first-class service on domestic routes and premium economy on
international routes, the company seeks to prepare itself to take
maximum advantage of the internationalization and expansion of
Haneda Airport and the increase of slots at Narita Airport after
¶2009.
TOKYO 00000645 009 OF 009
The airline outlined five goals: improvement of safety standards;
improvement profitability through cost reductions; downsizing
through aircraft renewal and strengthening aircraft
competitiveness; shifting to high profit routes and strengthening
overall product competitiveness and; concentrating resources to
the air transport segment.
For the company's international flights, JAL plans to increase
its share of China services from 27 percent in 2006 to 33 percent
by 2010. It also plans to increase the flights between Tokyo and
New York, Paris, Moscow, and Delhi in 2007, but plans to reduce
flights between Tokyo and Hong Kong and Guangzhou, and cancel
routes between Tokyo and Zurich, and Osaka-Brisbane-Sydney. JAL
is also scheduled to join One World this April.
¶24. (SBU) Bid-Rigging Post Mortem: Wakayama Wants More National
Money for Road Construction
--------------------
New Wakayama Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka, a former METI bureaucrat,
mentioned at a lecture at the Kansai Press Club that Wakayama
planned to build more national roads in the prefecture, which has
the least developed highway system in the six-prefecture Kansai
region.
National roads are funded and managed by the national government,
but there is a type of national road that the prefecture could
manage on its own and still receive a GOJ subsidy.
Governor Nisaka said his prefecture's budget was too tight to
improve the road system on its own, and he instead wants to push
for national funds for new road projects, citing the economic
benefits from tourism promotion and disaster prevention measures.
Governor Nisaka has to tread carefully to avoid becoming overly
identified with new public works projects, given his
predecessor's arrest in connection with bid-rigging on a public
tunnel project and allegations of massive bribery.
SCHIEFFER