U.S., Japan Sign New Microchip Pact; Japan Agrees to Open Market.(Originated from San Jose Mercury News, Calif.)

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, August, 1996 by Oanh, K.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--Aug. 4--The new computer chip trade pact between the United States and Japan replaces a decade-old landmark deal that forced Japan to open its $44 billion chip market to foreign companies with a far looser arrangement.

But some analysts say the deal's vague wording -- and lack of enforcement mechanisms -- reveal it's political origins.

The accord, reached after six days of talks and a final, exhausting 33-hour negotiations marathon that ended Friday morning, requires that chip sales in Japan continue to be monitored. But government involvement is minimal and, unlike the previous accord, which expired July 31, there are no numerical targets. Two new organizations will be formed on both the government and industry level to deal with global...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.

Premium Content Partnership | HighBeam Research provides an in-depth online archive library of reference works.