Kay Bailey Hutchison: “For many years, the United States has attempted to negotiate commonsense changes to this system with Japan. Japan also…”

“For many years, the United States has attempted to negotiate commonsense changes to this system with Japan. Japan also faced criticism from the European Union. However, no progress was made until earlier this year when the FMC voted to assess $100,000 fines against Japanese ocean carriers for each United States port call. It is reasonable for the United States to collect fines from the Japanese shipping lines. Before these fines were to be imposed, the Government of Japan agreed to make the necessary changes. The FMC judiciously gave Japan until August 1997 to work out these changes. When Japan failed to meet this generous deadline, the fines automatically went into effect. By last week, the Japanese ocean carriers had missed the FMC's deadline to pay the first $5 million in fines. Realizing that Japan would not follow through on its promise to fix its port system unless stronger measures were imposed, the FMC voted last week to deny the same Japanese ocean carriers entry to and exit from United States ports.”