Japan faces debt-plan snag: railways gain U.S. support in fight against imposition of liabilities

Article Abstract:

The Japanese governement is receiving criticisms from both Japanese firms and US legislators for its plans to pass on the old state railroad's unfunded pension liabilities to the Japanese companies that took control of the railroad in its privatization. The unfunded pension liabilities amounts to 360 bil yen ($2.65 bil), which the government uncovered on its audit of of the old railroads fund. Officials of the East Japan Railroad Co. and its six sister companies, as well as US legislators John Kerry and Alfonse D'Amato criticized the Japanese government for the action, saying that such a plan is contrary to the democratic and free market principles and could undermine investor confidence in the country.

Railroads, Rail Transportation, Pension & Benefit Regulation, Finance, Political aspects, Pensions, Pension funds, East Japan Railway Co.

---

Officials mull steel suit; legality of U.S. antidumping act is questioned

Article Abstract:

The Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) is planning to file a lawsuit against steel manufacturer Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp which filed a case against three Japanese trading companies. The steel maker alleged that Marubeni Corp, Mitsui and Co and Itochu Corp were dumping steel in the US in violation of the US antidumping law. Taro Sato, an official at MITI declared that the complaint will be filed before the World Trade Organization.

United States, Japan, Legal issues & crime, Iron and Steel Mills, Foreign Trade Companies NEC, Other Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Wholesalers, Trading Regulations, Steel Mill Products, Antidumping Programs, Cases, Laws, regulations and rules, International trade, International relations, Trading companies, International economic relations, World Trade Organization, Steel industry, Steel products, Securities law, Marubeni Corp., Antidumping duties, Securities trading, Japan. Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Mitsui and Company Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan), Itochu Corp., Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp.

---

Premier Hashimoto pledges tax cuts starting in 1999

Article Abstract:

Economists and traders criticize Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's pledge of tax cuts beginning in 1999 as too obscure to appease investors' expectations that he would resolve the tax issue. His pledge did not totally explain what kind of permanent tax reform his government plans to pursue. Some economists are pessimistic that such tax cuts or reforms would boost Japan's economy.

Jobs-Tax Reduction Programs, Planning, Tax reform, Tax policy, Manpower policy, Hashimoto, Ryutaro

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Semen Cibinong gains favor. Fishing in the pool of undervalued Malaysian stocks. Party is over for Indocement
• Abstracts: The jumbo on the runway. Right destination, wrong route. Talked off?
• Abstracts: Redchips and H shares suffer delays. Nanhai tests the IPP market in China. China projects seek new financing methods
• Abstracts: East Timor's woes may lead Indonesian shares higher. Investors are advised to switch focus to Asian currencies
• Abstracts: The world's favourite industry. Airport privatisation - the Australian experience. Aeroporti di Roma sale given go-ahead

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.