Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry manages a blacklist that includes companies and agencies from various countries with which Japanese companies may not cooperate with or export to. Sources inform ''Globes'' that the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo has expressed concern about this list, which includes Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI), Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI), and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., as well as Israel's Atomic Energy Committee and the Soreq Nuclear Research Center.
"Globes" has obtained a document that states that Israeli economic minister to Japan Amiram Halevy met the deputy director of the supervision department of Japan's Ministry of Economy more than a year ago to ask that Israeli defense companies be taken off the list. The document, written on official Israel Embassy in Tokyo stationary, consistently uses the word "blacklist" when referring to the Japan's Ministry of Economy's list.
The Embassy document states that, during the meeting, Japan's Ministry of Economy said that the list was not an embargo, but a list of various companies with which Japanese exporters are requested by the authorities to make a risk assessment when exporting to those companies. If the exporters believe that there is no risk that their goods will be used by defense companies for military purposes or for the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction, they may export to these companies with no need for a permit from or consulting with the Ministry of Economy.
Some defense companies also produce goods for the civilian market; hence Israel's concern about the blacklist.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert tried to raise the issue during his visit when he met with Japanese Vice Defense Minister Akinori Eto. When asked if any breakthrough had been made, Olmert replied, "We did not discuss lists during the visit - neither black nor white."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 1, 2008
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