Barrasso questions U.S. Ambassador to Japan nominee Caroline Kennedy on access for U.S. exports to Japan, including Wyoming soda ash, beef and liquefied natural gas.
Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso’s speech.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) secured a commitment from Caroline Kennedy, the nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to Japan, that she would work to eliminate trade barriers for Wyoming soda ash. Barrasso also spoke about the importance of expediting liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Japan.
Excerpts of Senator Barrasso’s back and forth with Nominee Caroline Kennedy:
Sen. Barrasso’s Remarks on Soda Ash:
“Thank you for taking time to visit with me last week to discuss U.S. – Japan relationships.
“This Ambassadorship to Japan is a very important position as others have said.
“The United States and Japan have a very strong relationship.
“Our nations work closely together on issues impacting our shared interests, our shared values.
“I am very pleased to see that you are engaged on those issues and willing to serve our nation in this critical region.
“While there are many topics to cover from our security alliance to Japan’s need for U.S. liquefied natural gas, I want to focus my time on one of our significant U.S. exports that we have discussed – soda ash.
“As I mentioned to you previously, soda ash is an issue that your family has spoken about in the past.
“Actually, the day I got sworn in to the Senate, your uncle Ted told me about his time in Wyoming, talked about soda ash. Trona as it’s also known and he told me how he stood with the Wyoming delegation in 1960 at the nominating convention, and it was Wyoming’s 15 votes that put your father over the top to get the nomination.
“I questioned it a bit, but I actually got back and found the picture of Ted Kennedy standing with the Wyoming sign at the convention and it’s a great picture. He also talked about his rodeo days in Wyoming, which is impressive.
“Also, 50 years ago, almost to the day, this coming week. 50 years ago – 1963 – President John Kennedy spoke at the University of Wyoming in Laramie and 13,000 people attended, huge day.
“Mike Mansfield, who you mentioned Mr. Chairman. Mike Mansfield who is the longest serving Ambassador to Japan was on the stage with President Kennedy. As was Secretary of Interior, Stuart Udall, whose son Tom serves on this committee. All on stage in Laramie.
“It was a memorable moment for many folks across my State.
“And at the event, President Kennedy talked about the need for ingenuity and scientific application of knowledge to develop new resources.
“Amazingly, he specifically mentioned soda ash in his remarks.
“People said he, actually using his Boston accent, called it ‘soda rash’ and some people thought it was a skin condition for a while.
But he said, I’ll quote from his speech: ‘For example, soda ash is a multimillion dollar industry in this State. A few years ago there was no use for it. It was wasted. People were unaware of it. And even if it had been sought, it could not be found – not because it wasn’t here, but because effective prospecting techniques had not been developed. Now soda ash is a necessary ingredient in the production of glass, steel, and other products. As a result of a series of experiments, of a harnessing of science to the use of man, this great new industry has opened up.’
“That was John Kennedy in Laramie 50 years ago this month.
“The United States is the most competitive supplier of soda ash in the world, due to the abundance of the raw material trona and it’s in our country.
“U.S. ‘natural soda ash’ is refined from the mineral trona.
“The Green River Basin in Wyoming has the world’s largest known deposits.
“It is a key component as we said, of glass, also detergents, soaps, and chemicals.
“It’s used in many other industrial purposes.
“It’s long been regarded as the standard of quality.
“Currently, Japan has a 3.3% tariff, which is what we had discussed, on natural soda ash imports into Japan.
“Now Japan has formally joined the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations.
“Out of all the Trans Pacific Partnership countries, Japan is the only country with a tariff on U.S. natural soda ash.
“It is important for the United States to work, I believe, to resolve this problem.
“Eliminating the tariff on naturally sourced soda ash would benefit Japanese manufacturers who want it and U.S. soda ash producers alike.
“So my question is, as the negotiations on the Trans Pacific Partnership continue, will you commit to me that you will advocate for the elimination of this tariff on natural soda ash imports?”
Ms. Caroline Kennedy’s Response:
“Well I guess I wouldn’t be sitting here if it weren’t for the state of Wyoming.
“I would definitely make that commitment and in fact I did pass along your concerns to the USTR. They have indicated that soda ash will be an important issue in the upcoming negotiations.
“So, I’ll let you know and I look forward to working with you on this issue”
Sen. Barrasso’s Remarks on Beef and LNG:
“Thank you, and also we had talked about beef, Wyoming’s number one cash crop, but also I know Senator Risch, it’s a big cash crop in Idaho, Montana, the Rocky Mountain West and we’re looking forward to pursuing every opportunity to eliminate trade barriers and increase exports to Japan for all U.S. industries, so I appreciate your efforts.
“We also had a chance to talk a bit about liquefied natural gas where we have an ability to export and I know, visiting with the Ambassador from Japan they have great interest in importing liquefied natural gas.”
Ms. Caroline Kennedy’s Response:
“Well in terms of beef, as you know, there have been a 43% increase in our sales to Japan recently this year, and I think hopefully they will continue to accept more high quality U.S. beef and obviously liquefied natural gas, in fact Sen. Cardin, they have just approved a project and so it’s a win for both countries so I look forward to working on that because it’s a benefit to all of us.”
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