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Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Japanese Editorial Calls For Hardline Stance on Potential US Trade Talks

A high-profile editorial in one of Japan’s major national newspapers on Friday called on its government to stand firm against what it views as the United States’ “protectionist” trade strategy, one that it says has been on display in the U.S. handling of the NAFTA and KORUS renegotiations.Following recent discussions between Vice President Pence and Japanese trade officials, and ahead of President Trump’s visit to Japan next month, the editorial advocated against making any concessions beyond what was on the table when the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement was negotiated. It also called for Japan to remain focused on advancing TPP-11 and its pending agreement with the European Union as the best way to compel the U.S. into a fair bilateral trade negotiation and a possible re-evaluation of its stance against multi-lateral trade agreements.