Trade, Security Top Obama's Agenda In Japan

In light of an expanding China and economic challenges, Japan and the US 'intend to overcome mutual differences and together forge a sturdy economic order for Asia and the Pacific in the 21st century' with Obama's visit.



The red, white and blue bunting is being prepared for the streets of the Japanese capital ahead of the arrival next Wednesday, April 23 of President Barack Obama for a three-day state visit that both sides agree is of critical importance to the security and prosperity of the region.



Speaking at a conference in Tokyo on April 17, a week ahead of the visit, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the tone for the upcoming meeting had been set at the nuclear summit in The Hague in late March, particularly when it comes to the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.



"Both Japan and the US attach a great deal of importance to rules, uphold the principles of freedom and democracy, and possess the most advanced technologies and industries," Abe said. "We intend to overcome our mutual differences and together forge a sturdy economic order for Asia and the Pacific in the 21st century."



'Foundation for growth'



"We wish to create an unshakable foundation for growth," he said. "Rather, I would say it is my firm belief that we must create such a foundation."



Discussions on the TPP have not gone entirely smoothly, with agriculture and the auto sector two areas that have proved to be sticking points. Washington is calling on Tokyo to lower its tariff on beef imports as well as easing protective measures that also ring-fence dairy products, rice and pork. Japan, for its part, wants the US to drop the tariffs imposed on imported cars and trucks, although the powerful US auto lobby is vehemently opposed.



There is a suggestion in the air, however, that President Obama's visit is too good an opportunity to miss and that it might very well coincide with a breakthrough in the debate that allows the two sides to indicate that they have settled some of their differences or even sign an agreement.



One deal that will be signed during the visit is an education exchange program that will double the number of Japanese studying at US universities from 20,000 at present, while raising the number of US students at universities here to 12,000.



Away from trade, the area that will dominate discussions will be regional security, Go Ito, a professor of international relations at Tokyo's Meiji University, told