Japan’s TPP Strategy

Abstract

Since 2013 the Japanese government has actively engaged in Mega-FTA negotiations such as the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), Japan-EU FTA, RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), and China-Japan-Korea FTA. Particularly, Japan initiated the TPP 11 negotiations in the absence of the U.S., following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement it would be exiting from the TPP in January 2017, and reached an agreement in principle in November 2017.1 The Japanese government envisions moving toward the conclusion of a final agreement in early March 2018. This research examines Japan’s TPP strategy by focusing on the economic effects of the TPP and Japan’s major issues of interest in the TPP agreement.