Pete Sessions: “I rise to offer my support also to the United States and Japan negotiating team who are now entering the next rounds of…”

“I rise to offer my support also to the United States and Japan negotiating team who are now entering the next rounds of meetings to continue talks on the long-awaited air transport agreement between our two countries. I think history will look at this moment as one that is a very important crossroads in the future of both our countries and our nations as we work together, not only now but in the future. For the first time in almost 50 years, the United States and Japan will come together and agree to a new level of passenger air service between the United States, Japan and beyond. What is even more significant, though, is the economic impact that that will accord and the opportunities that will surely follow in the coming years. This agreement will provide United States air carriers with a 25- percent increase in passenger flights to Japan. Nearly 3,600 new flights will be added each year. Further expansion can be expected as other carriers begin this service to the region, which I believe can only breed more competition in the marketplace. And the best part is that is only the beginning. This agreement will have an enormous economic impact to our economy. At present it is estimated that this agreement will generate almost $10.8 billion in direct and indirect economic impact.”