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U.S. NEWSSaturday 25 April 2015
No trade breakthrough expected with Japan during Abe visit
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jap- agriculture products. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Akasaka
anese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s official visit to Wash- State Guest House in Tokyo. Abe’s visit to Washington next week comes amid heightened at-
Abe’s visit to Washington ington on Tuesday will in- tention in Congress to an Asia-Pacific trade deal that has created a deep rift between President
next week comes amid clude a state dinner with Barack Obama and members of his Democratic Party and whose central feature is liberalized
heightened attention in about 300 guests and an commerce between the U.S. and Japan.
Congress to an Asia-Pacific address to a joint meet-
trade deal that has cre- ing of Congress, the first by (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
ated a deep rift between a Japanese leader. New
President Barack Obama security arrangements be-
and members of his Dem- tween the U.S. and Japan
ocratic Party and whose are a top agenda item for
central feature is liberalized the two leaders as Abe
commerce between the seeks to strengthen Ja-
U.S. and Japan. pan’s defense capabilities.
White House officials said Given that it’s the 70th anni-
Friday that Obama and versary of the end of World
Abe are not expected to War II, Abe is also facing
announce a final agree- some pressure to address
ment on trade talks be- Japanese army behavior
tween the two nations. Offi- against Korea and China
cials said negotiators have during the war. The White
made progress, but differ- House is especially eager
ences remain over how to for Abe to mend fences
reduce U.S. auto tariffs and with South Korea. And this
Japanese barriers on U.S. week, 25 U.S. lawmakers
urged Abe “to formally re- Kenichiro Sasae, said the
affirm and validate” apolo- Japan-U.S. negotiations
gies made by his predeces- were in the “final stage”
sors for Japanese wartime but stopped short of de-
aggression. claring an agreement next
Yet even without pros- week.
pects for a breakthrough Caroline Atkinson, White
on trade, the negotiations House deputy national
between the U.S. and Ja- security adviser for inter-
pan are likely to take pre- national economics, said
cedence as Congress on Friday negotiators had
moves to give Obama so- made substantial progress,
called fast-track authority but “we do not expect any
to negotiate international announcement of a final
trade deals. House and deal. We still have some
Senate committees both work to do.”
approved legislation that Abe arrives in the U.S. just
would set standards for as Obama is engaged in
any trade deal but would a fierce fight with liberals
permit Congress only to and organized labor, who
approve or reject, but not oppose giving him trade
amend, any final agree- promotion authority and
ment. Obama wants such who are suspicious about
authority to complete trade deals because they
a 12-nation Pacific rim fear job losses. A coalition
agreement. The U.S. and of Democrats and Repub-
Japan are the two largest licans have also tried, so far
economies in those nego- unsuccessfully, to require
tiations, which means that that any trade deal ad-
resolving their differences dress currency manipula-
would go far in approach- tion, amid concern that Ja-
ing a broader deal. pan has adjusted the yen
Earlier this week, Japan’s to give an advantage to its
ambassador to the U.S., exports. q
U.S. NEWSSaturday 25 April 2015
No trade breakthrough expected with Japan during Abe visit
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jap- agriculture products. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Akasaka
anese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s official visit to Wash- State Guest House in Tokyo. Abe’s visit to Washington next week comes amid heightened at-
Abe’s visit to Washington ington on Tuesday will in- tention in Congress to an Asia-Pacific trade deal that has created a deep rift between President
next week comes amid clude a state dinner with Barack Obama and members of his Democratic Party and whose central feature is liberalized
heightened attention in about 300 guests and an commerce between the U.S. and Japan.
Congress to an Asia-Pacific address to a joint meet-
trade deal that has cre- ing of Congress, the first by (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
ated a deep rift between a Japanese leader. New
President Barack Obama security arrangements be-
and members of his Dem- tween the U.S. and Japan
ocratic Party and whose are a top agenda item for
central feature is liberalized the two leaders as Abe
commerce between the seeks to strengthen Ja-
U.S. and Japan. pan’s defense capabilities.
White House officials said Given that it’s the 70th anni-
Friday that Obama and versary of the end of World
Abe are not expected to War II, Abe is also facing
announce a final agree- some pressure to address
ment on trade talks be- Japanese army behavior
tween the two nations. Offi- against Korea and China
cials said negotiators have during the war. The White
made progress, but differ- House is especially eager
ences remain over how to for Abe to mend fences
reduce U.S. auto tariffs and with South Korea. And this
Japanese barriers on U.S. week, 25 U.S. lawmakers
urged Abe “to formally re- Kenichiro Sasae, said the
affirm and validate” apolo- Japan-U.S. negotiations
gies made by his predeces- were in the “final stage”
sors for Japanese wartime but stopped short of de-
aggression. claring an agreement next
Yet even without pros- week.
pects for a breakthrough Caroline Atkinson, White
on trade, the negotiations House deputy national
between the U.S. and Ja- security adviser for inter-
pan are likely to take pre- national economics, said
cedence as Congress on Friday negotiators had
moves to give Obama so- made substantial progress,
called fast-track authority but “we do not expect any
to negotiate international announcement of a final
trade deals. House and deal. We still have some
Senate committees both work to do.”
approved legislation that Abe arrives in the U.S. just
would set standards for as Obama is engaged in
any trade deal but would a fierce fight with liberals
permit Congress only to and organized labor, who
approve or reject, but not oppose giving him trade
amend, any final agree- promotion authority and
ment. Obama wants such who are suspicious about
authority to complete trade deals because they
a 12-nation Pacific rim fear job losses. A coalition
agreement. The U.S. and of Democrats and Repub-
Japan are the two largest licans have also tried, so far
economies in those nego- unsuccessfully, to require
tiations, which means that that any trade deal ad-
resolving their differences dress currency manipula-
would go far in approach- tion, amid concern that Ja-
ing a broader deal. pan has adjusted the yen
Earlier this week, Japan’s to give an advantage to its
ambassador to the U.S., exports. q
