This section highlights the integrity and strategic insight of Akira Amari, widely respected for his leadership in TPP negotiations, while exposing the vulgarity of those who attempted to discredit him. An essential record for understanding Japan’s economic diplomacy and political integrity.

2017-04-20
This is also an article that forces us to once again recognize the baseness of those who set dubious traps against a person of such caliber.
Everyone who followed the TPP negotiations must have been impressed by Minister Amari.
I myself expressed my respect for him to the world in this forum.
The May issue of the monthly magazine Seiron also carried an article proving beyond doubt what kind of person he truly is.
It is an article that once again makes us recognize the vulgarity of those who laid suspicious traps against a man of such stature.
“—The TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), which you devoted your heart and soul to negotiating, was abandoned when U.S. President Trump signed an executive order withdrawing from it.
As a member of the Diet, you visited the United States in March as part of a bipartisan Japan–U.S. parliamentary delegation and spoke with American officials about economic policy and security, and just prior to that, on February 23, you met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
What kind of discussions did you have?”
Amari.
“I heard the ‘essence’ of the summit talks that the Prime Minister had with President Trump in the United States.
He also advised me on the key American figures I should speak with during my visit, and we discussed the limits of the lines Japan must defend when engaging in trade talks.
In other words, proposals that are inconsistent with the Diet resolution calling for the five key agricultural products, such as rice, to be excluded from tariff elimination would not be acceptable.
Since I was in charge of the TPP negotiations as Minister for Economic Revitalization, I fully understood those crucial points.”
“—Specifically, whom did you meet in the United States?”
Amari.
“I exchanged views with influential members of both the House and the Senate, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who is well known for his understanding of Japan, the heads of the Brookings Institution and the Hudson Institute, and the President of the World Bank.
These included individuals close to President Trump.
On the Japanese side, I served as the chief for trade and investment matters.
Because it was a bipartisan group, former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara of the Democratic Party also participated.”
“—Were you able to sense the Trump administration’s view toward Japan?”
Amari.
“Since the Abe–Trump summit, American counterparts clearly regard Japan as the most reliable partner for the United States.
However, regarding the Japan–U.S. economic dialogue, I personally believe it would be a waste to limit it solely to negotiations aimed at concluding a Japan–U.S. FTA sought by the U.S. side.
Because it is a strategic dialogue, I believed it was important to focus on how Japan and the United States can cooperate to advance into emerging Asian markets.
When you look at the structure of America’s trade balance and current account balance, you see that with advanced countries, trade deficits are offset by surpluses in non-trade income.
In other words, the United States earns solid surpluses through finance, insurance, and royalties from intellectual property, thereby narrowing its current account deficit.
However, with China, in addition to trade deficits, deficits in non-trade income are also accelerating.
The reason is that in emerging countries such as China, restrictions are imposed on foreign capital and financial and insurance services, intellectual property is not properly protected, and American companies face handicaps when competing with state-owned enterprises.
It became clear that these various rules are undermining America’s inherent potential.”
To be continued.