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TOKYO, April 3-- "Fujifilm is extremely gratified by the decisive and overwhelming case that the Government of Japan has presented today, " Mr. Minoru Ohnishi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. said on the Government of Japan's submission to the World Trade Organization today in the U.S.-Japan consumer photographic products case.
"This submission clearly shows that Japan has established that the U.S. allegations are without substance and foundation," Mr. Ohnishi said. "This is an attempt by the United States to impose its distorted views on the Japanese photographic market to force a greater market share for Kodak, and it will not succeed."
Mr. Ohnishi noted that the USTR and Kodak, in alleging "non-violation nullification and impairment" of prior tariff concessions, abandoned virtually all substantive claims that Japan violated the actual rules of the WTO.
"In its submission today, Japan has demonstrated that the examples of government actions cited by the U.S., the U.S. claims about competition in the Japanese photographic market, and U.S. legal theories are wrong," Mr. Ohnishi said. "The U.S. alleged that government actions such as distribution countermeasures, the Premiums Law and the Large Scale Retail Store Law discriminate against foreign film and paper. Japan's submission to the WTO clearly establishes that these charges are wrong, both in fact and law."
"Imported film is widely available, competitively priced, and freely promoted in Japan," Mr. Ohnishi declared.
Mr. Ohnishi concluded by stating that "Fujifilm is confident that the WTO panel will uphold Japan's case on the facts and the law. Once the case is decided, we at Fujifilm look forward to returning to the serious business of competing in the marketplace, without government intervention."
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