Original title: Japanese media: U.S.-Japan trade talks have stalled and it is difficult to rebuild a cooperation framework Source: Reference News Network
Reference News Network reported on November 19 According to a report from Japan’s Asahi Shimbun on November 18, the Japanese and US governments decided on the 17th to build a new economic negotiation framework. For other countries that are active in economic and diplomatic fields, the situation is very serious for the defensive Japan and the United States. Japan-US trade negotiations have actually stalled, and Japan needs to reformulate its trade strategy.
On the 12th of this month, Dai Qi, the U.S. Trade Representative, held talks with Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Koichi Hagi and others. After the talks, Dai Qi emphasized on the significance of the Japan-US trade cooperation framework that the close cooperation between the United States and Japan will provide support for the development of the Biden administration’s “Indo-Pacific Economic Framework”, and will also help build a sustainable, inclusive and economic framework. Competitive trade policy. Key words such as “sustainable” and “inclusive” mentioned by Dai Qi have frequently appeared recently. This is the change made by the Biden administration based on a series of actions by the former US President Trump against free trade and withdrawing from the TPP.
According to the report, the “Indo-Pacific Economic Framework” is a concept put forward by US President Biden at the East Asia Summit on October 27 this year. He hopes to explore the road to its construction together with friendly countries. The “Indo-Pacific Economic Framework” intends to involve trade facilitation, digital economy, cutting-edge technology standard formulation, supply chain, decarbonization and many other fields, but no actual progress has been made. Under the circumstances that it is difficult to return to the TPP, the United States still hopes to maintain its participation in the Indo-Pacific regional affairs despite the limited effect. This is the true thinking of the Biden administration.
The report pointed out that a new Japan-US trade cooperation framework was born. A “framework” is an easily acceptable form that can avoid over-protruding points of opposition, but it is not as mandatory as a “treaty” and cannot restrict member states with rules.
The Japanese government believes that the current framework is in line with the United States’ idea of actively participating in the affairs of the Indo-Pacific region. The United States not only requires allies to join the framework it constructed, but also hopes that allies will participate in the framework construction process with them.
However, the prospects facing Japan are uncertain. Japan relies on the United States for security. If bilateral trade negotiations are conducted, it will be difficult for Japan to take into account the “face” of the United States from time to time. However, after the United States used tariff sanctions to coerce, Japan had to deal with it in the form of bilateral negotiations.
After Biden came to power, Japan roughly expected that the “second phase” negotiations of the Japan-US trade agreement that came into effect in January 2020 would be stalled. This is not good news for the Japanese auto industry because it cannot enjoy the benefits of trade liberalization. Bonus.
In response to the rapid rise of other countries, Japan hopes to build a multilateral trade order by urging the United States to return to the TPP, and to strengthen the relationship between the two countries by promoting the Japan-US Free Trade Agreement process, but these wishes are now difficult to realize.
According to a report by the Nikkei on November 16, the governments of Japan and the United States agreed to start negotiations on the 15th to resolve the issue of additional tariffs on steel and aluminum products imported from Japan by the United States. Japan’s Minister of Economy, Industry and Industry Koichi Hagi and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Raymondo held talks in Tokyo. Due to the cautious views in the United States, the above-mentioned tariffs may not be completely removed.
Raimundo said, “The principle of continuing contact with Japan will not be shaken, and he is willing to promote cooperative relations.” She also held talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Lin Fangzheng and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroichi Matsuno respectively.
The report pointed out that the Biden administration of the United States set out to resolve the issue of tariffs on steel and aluminum products with Japan in order to repair relations with the allies.
According to the report, in terms of trade protectionism, the Biden administration and Trump’s previous administration are almost the same, but they are very different from Japan, which advocates free trade. The Biden administration only began negotiations with Japan 10 months after it took office, also because the trade unions that are the basis of its support strongly oppose the removal of tariffs.
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