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coordinated FAS market development and trade policy activities, 

 these 90 structures would not exist. The Ministry of 

 Construction of Japan predicts that the number and size of these 

 types of buildings will increase at a faster rate than other 

 types of construction. 



In 1990, the United States and Japan concluded an Agreement 

 with the objectives of increasing market access and wood 

 utilization. This Agreement was a culmination of the 1985 MOSS 

 negotiations, which USDA chaired and the 1990 Super 301 

 negotiations chaired by USTR but in which USDA played a key role 

 (USDA has responsibility for the implementation of the 

 Agreement) . The primary obstacle to gaining the objective of 

 increased wood utilization was Japan's restrictive building code 

 which severely restricted wood construction. Japan's 

 justification for these restrictions was concerns about the 

 safety of wood-frame construction. 



The significant progress achieved by the Agreement in 

 permitting increased wood utilization was primarily the result of 

 five years of technical educational activities focused on the 

 performance of modern wood-frame structures in resisting 

 earthquake forces and fire spread. These activities were carried 

 out under the TEA program and continued under the MPP program. 

 The target audience for these activities included architects, 

 engineers, public housing officials and building code 



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