04/21/1998 05:17 PM House WTR

                   JOINT MEETING                                               
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON WORLD TRADE & STATE/FEDERAL RELATIONS               
    HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE & TOURISM                   
                         April 21, 1998                                        
                           5:17 p.m.                                           
                                                                               
COMMITTEE CALENDAR                                                             
                                                                               
BRIEFING BY TRADE REPRESENTATIVES FROM JAPAN, KOREA & TAIWAN                   
                                                                               
TAPE(S)                                                                        
                                                                               
98-3, SIDES A & B                                                              
                                                                               
CALL TO ORDER                                                                  
                                                                               
Representative Ramona Barnes, Chairman of the House Special                    
Committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations, convened the             
joint meeting of the House Special Committee on World Trade and                
State/Federal Relations and House Special Committee on                         
International Trade and Tourism at 5:17 p.m.                                   
                                                                               
PRESENT                                                                        
                                                                               
Committee members present at the call to order were Representatives            
Barnes, Cowdery, Ryan and Austerman.  Representative Kott arrived              
as the meeting was in progress.                                                
                                                                               
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION                                                         
                                                                               
(All presenters were via teleconference from the Anchorage                     
Legislative Information Office.)                                               
                                                                               
PRISCILLA WOHL, Lead Trade Specialist, Division of Trade and                   
Development, Department of Commerce and Economic Development,                  
introduced the trade representatives and helped facilitate                     
communication.                                                                 
                                                                               
KOJIRO ABE, State of Alaska Representative, Japan Office, discussed            
the Japanese economy, tourism in respect to northern lights (aurora            
borealis) viewing, seafood, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market             
in Japan, deregulation of utility companies and nuclear energy.                
                                                                               
IDA YAO, State of Alaska Representative, Taiwan Office, discussed              
the Taiwanese economy.  She talked about trade shows she has                   
participated in representing Alaska products.  She mentioned the               
seafood and agriculture industries as future vehicles to work for              
more international activity.                                                   
                                                                               
K.S. YANG, State of Alaska Representative, Korea Office, discussed             
the Korean economy.  He spoke of crude oil, LNG, tourism and                   
seafood.  He mentioned the nonstop flights now available from                  
Alaska to Korea, noting he would like to promote these more.                   
                                                                               
COMMITTEE MEMBERS asked several questions, to which written answers            
are to be furnished immediately.  All trade representatives                    
mentioned the "various stories" BP, Exxon and ARCO are confusing               
the end user with.  The facts about who these end users are, what              
the three major companies are telling them, what the end users are             
saying, and what type of dates are mentioned in conversations were             
requested from all three trade representatives respective to their             
area of representation.  All three trade representatives were also             
asked to respond to the amount available in the United States                  
Financial Reserves for their areas.  Ms. Yao is to send a copy of              
a contract between Formosa Regent Hotel and Backyard Cats first                
thing in the morning.  Any documents or contracts between a                    
legislator or legislative staff are to be immediately forwarded to             
the committee chairs.  The importance of paying US businesses for              
their services and goods was stressed.  Mr. Yang was specifically              
asked to look into some matters pending in his area where Alaskan              
businesses are not being paid.  He was reminded that these                     
businesses are not in business to watch and wait on the market, as             
seems to be the present style of business in Korea.  Mr. Yang said             
he would be doing "more than his best" to explain the real reason              
Alaskan businesses were not being paid, and reconcile matters.  Mr.            
Yang was also asked to look into the Export Assistance Program to              
find out what type of seafood marketing program is being undertaken            
in North Korea.  Ms. Yao was asked to send a copy of a report                  
relating to potential buyers of cabbage or other agricultural                  
products to Representative Ryan.  Mr. Abe was asked to reply to a              
question regarding Sony and a statement made by the company                    
regarding Japan's economy.  This question was to be transmitted in             
written form via facsimile to Mr. Abe.                                         
                                                                               
COMMITTEE ACTION                                                               
                                                                               
The committees requested their questions be answered immediately in            
written form.  The committees took no action.                                  
                                                                               
ADJOURNMENT                                                                    
                                                                               
Representative Barnes adjourned the joint meeting at 6:20 p.m.                 
                                                                               
NOTE:                                                                          
                                                                               
The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were taken.  A              
copy of the tape and log notes may be obtained by contacting the               
House Records Office at 130 Seward Street, Suite 211, Juneau,                  
Alaska  99801-1182, (907) 465-2214, and after adjournment of the               
second session of the Twentieth Alaska State Legislature, in the               
Legislative Reference Library.