Japan Machinery Center for Trade and InvestmentAbout JMC
The Japan Machinery Center for Trade and Investment (JMC) is a non-profit organization that was established, under the authorization by the Japanese government (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), in 1952 by the major electronics and machinery manufacturers and trading companies. The purpose of JMC was to promote sound development of foreign trade and direct investment by preventing unfair trade practices and removing barriers in the foreign markets, in accordance with the Export and Import Transaction Law.
In 1952, the total amount of machinery exports including electronic products and automobiles was a mere 126 million US dollars. Today, this number has multiplied roughly 3,595 times to 453 billion US dollars. In addition, the Japanese machinery-related companies supply their products to the world not only by export but also by overseas localized production and outsourced thier production to local or third-country companies. Furthermore, the recent economic globalization and the dissemination of IT(Information Technology) have made it essential for companies expanding businesses in overseas markets not only to provide excellent goods and services to foreign customers, but also to procure products and parts from abroad, and strengthen tie-ups with foreign companies.
Thus, the activities of JMC, originally for orderly export transactions, now cover a much wider portfolio including multilateral trade and investment rules discussed by international organizations such as WTO, and Free Trade Agreement (FTA), negotiation environmental protection regulations, national industrial policies, international rules for the non-proliferation of weapons and related products and technologies, financial measures for international trade such as trade insurance.
In 1952, the total amount of machinery exports including electronic products and automobiles was a mere 126 million US dollars. Today, this number has multiplied roughly 3,595 times to 453 billion US dollars. In addition, the Japanese machinery-related companies supply their products to the world not only by export but also by overseas localized production and outsourced thier production to local or third-country companies. Furthermore, the recent economic globalization and the dissemination of IT(Information Technology) have made it essential for companies expanding businesses in overseas markets not only to provide excellent goods and services to foreign customers, but also to procure products and parts from abroad, and strengthen tie-ups with foreign companies.
Thus, the activities of JMC, originally for orderly export transactions, now cover a much wider portfolio including multilateral trade and investment rules discussed by international organizations such as WTO, and Free Trade Agreement (FTA), negotiation environmental protection regulations, national industrial policies, international rules for the non-proliferation of weapons and related products and technologies, financial measures for international trade such as trade insurance.
JMC plays the folliwing roles:
- To make international rules through WTO, WCO(World Custom Organization) and promote liberalization of trade and investment by concluding bilateral FTA with trade partner countries.
- To solve the problems in the international trade and investment, environmental protections, production safety rules and so on by submitting comments, talking with partner country industries and governments and/or taking cooperative action with the Japanese government.
- To collect and analyze information regarding trends in overseas markets, commerce and investment problems, trade-related environmental problems, standards and certifications in product safety, trends in export controls, international competitiveness measures and provide information for its member companies through various measures like Study Reports, homepage and seminars.
- To realize inter-industry cooperation, promote information sharing and deepen mutual understanding among foreign companies, industry groups and governments.
- To improve common benefits of member companies, construct databases of trade statistics and arrange special trade insurance for political and commercial risks and hold seminars and study sessions.