Japan and the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda recently announced that Japan would start talks with member countries on participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). TPP is regarded by many as the best route to a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific, a goal for many in the region since 1993. Prime Minister Noda’s decision to move forward with the United States, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam was welcomed by President Barack Obama, but met with caution on Capitol Hill. TPP also remains controversial within Japan. As Japan attempts to rebuild in the aftermath of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis that struck on March 11, deal with an aging and declining population, contend with a strong yen, and define its role in the context of a rising China and a fast-changing Asia Pacific, TPP promises to remain a topic of keen interest.
On December 2, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies at Brookings and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA hosted a conference that examined Japan’s potential entry into the TPP, addressing the opportunities and pitfalls the trade pact may present for its economic future and that of the region. Leading experts provided diverse perspectives on recent developments and future prospects, as well as the state of the debate within Japan, the United States and other current members of TPP.
After each panel, speakers took audience questions.
Agenda
8:45 AM -- Introduction
Richard C. Bush
Nonresident Senior Fellow - Foreign Policy, Center for East Asia Policy Studies, John L. Thornton China Center
Junko Chano
Executive Director (Program), Sasakawa Peace Foundation
9:00 AM -- Panel 1: TPP: Views from Tokyo and Washington
Moderator: Timothy Keeler
Partner
William C. “Bill” Lane
Director, Washington Office
Michitaka Nakatomi
Consulting Fellow, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI)
10:00 AM -- Panel 2: Japan, TPP, and the Global Trade Regime
Mike Moore
Ambassador of New Zealand to the United States
Tami Overby
Vice President for Asia
Clayton Yeutter
Senior Advisor, Hogan Lovells
11:15 am -- Panel 3: Japan’s Perspectives on TPP
Moderator: Daniel Bob
Senior Fellow and Director of U.S.-Japan Programs
Kiyoaki Aburaki
U.S. Representative, Keidanren
Richard Katz
Editor-in-Chief, The Oriental Economist
Heizo Takenaka
Director, Global Security Research Institute, Keio University and Senior Research Fellow, Japan Center for Economic Research
Takashi Terada
Professor, Department of Political Science - Doshisha University
Operating Advisor - U.S.-Japan Research Institute
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Just as the mettle of the TPP project has been tested by the United States, now it will be tested by China.