Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO1887
2006-04-07 08:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

JAPANESE BUREAUCRATS SLAM METI'S TRADE PROPOSAL

Tags:  ETRD ECON PREL PGOV JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1600
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RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 5973
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2814
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001887 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS USTR FOR AUSTR CUTLER
GENEVA PASS USTR
PARIS FOR OECD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2016
TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL PGOV JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE BUREAUCRATS SLAM METI'S TRADE PROPOSAL

REF: TOKYO 1851

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b/d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001887

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS USTR FOR AUSTR CUTLER
GENEVA PASS USTR
PARIS FOR OECD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2016
TAGS: ETRD ECON PREL PGOV JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE BUREAUCRATS SLAM METI'S TRADE PROPOSAL

REF: TOKYO 1851

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) Summary. Four Japanese Ministries slammed METI for
its uncoordinated proposal for an East Asia Economic
Partnership Agreement at a previously scheduled interagency
meeting today. End Summary.


2. (C) METI Minister's Nikai's proposal for an East Asia
Economic Partnership Agreement (see reftel) was "slammed" by
all four other ministries participating in a previously
scheduled Director General level meeting to coordinate
Japan's trade policy on April 7, according to MOFA Economic
Director General Ishikawa. The Ministry of Agriculture
Director General, according to Ishikawa, was the most
critical pointing out that METI could not possibly expect
that Japan would negotiate any agricultural trade
liberalization under a proposal that had not been cleared
with that Ministry. The Ministry of Health, Labor and
Welfare likewise criticized Minister Nikai's proposal asking
rhetorically how Japan could possible cope with Chinese
requests for liberalization of the movement of one billion
persons. Likewise, the Ministry of Finance criticized METI's
proposal and its failure to coordinate in advance.


3. (C ) Ishikawa, who called EMIN from his car to gleefully
report this news, said that because of the strong criticism
from these three other Ministries, he could temper somewhat
his own Ministry's opposition. He said he confined his
comments to MOFA's political concerns about balancing
economic and political issues and the need to consider the
impact on Japan's relations with North American and European
trading partners.


4. (C ) Ishikawa said he has heard that Agriculture Minister
Nakagawa has been the most scathing about this proposal
because he thinks it would undermine Japan's important
political and security relationship with the United States.
Ishikawa concluded by saying that MAFF and MOFA are well
aware of the United States' concerns over Nikai's proposal
for the future of the East Asian Economic Architecture.
SCHIEFFER