The U.S.-Japan Panel on Wind and Seismic Effects was established in 1968. Annual meetings alternate between Japan and the U.S. The Panel develops technologies that advance engineering design and construction practices. The Panel is composed of 17 Federal agencies who participate in task committees. The task committees focus on specific national issues, e.g., earthquake hazard reduction, buried pipelines, transportation and telecommunication systems, and repair and retrofit of structures. The results of the task committee workshops and conferences are shared at the annual joint meeting and usually published as proceedings.