Larry Pressler: “In recent months the Government of Japan publicly has indicated its desire to move forward in United States-Japan…”

“In recent months the Government of Japan publicly has indicated its desire to move forward in United States-Japan aviation relations by expanding air service opportunities. Given that Japan is our second largest aviation trading partner overseas and is the gateway to the booming Asia-Pacific market, these statements are encouraging news for consumers on both sides of the Pacific. Regrettably, Japan's actions speak much louder than its words. While Japan certainly talks about progress, it has prevented any real progress from taking place by continuing to prohibit several of our carriers from serving various United States-Asia markets via Japan despite a clear right to do so guaranteed by the United States-Japan bilateral aviation agreement. In fact, Japanese negotiators seem more intent on protecting intra-Asian air service markets for Japanese carriers by blocking out United States carrier competitors than they are in opening the United States-Japan aviation market. That certainly was evident in air service talks earlier this month in Tokyo. Japanese negotiators must make a choice. They must choose between progress or protectionism. More fundamentally, Japan must choose whether to embrace the future of global air service or unwisely cling to the past.”