Japan to Focus on Broader US Trade Deal, WTO, South Korea in 2020, Foreign Minister Says

Japan’s foreign minister touted the U.S.-Japan trade deal (see 1912040008) as one of the main successes of 2019 in his year-end remarks, saying the negotiations were “extremely difficult” and the deal’s implications were “deep,” according to an unofficial translation of a transcript. “This significance is so great,” the minister said during a Dec. 27 press conference. The minister said Japan plans to “build” on the agreement in 2020 and “stably develop Japan-U.S. economic relations, one of the important pillars of the Japan-U.S. alliance.” Trade groups have urged both countries to continue negotiating toward a more comprehensive deal (see 1912050058).

The minister also said Japan plans to focus on solving issues at the World Trade Organization (see 1912240016) and complete negotiations surrounding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (see 1911040016). The minister said Japan wants to play a “leading role” in those issues and others, including future export control policy dialogues (see 1912160011) with South Korea. The two sides have been locked in a trade dispute (see 1907010020) since July. While the minister said it has been “difficult to improve” relations with South Korea, he said the two countries plan to continue meeting.