TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - WTO DOHA ROUND

UNCLAS TOKYO 002092 SIPDIS STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - WTO DOHA ROUND ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page stories on Thursday morning included speculation that Prime Minister Fukuda will shuffle his cabinet next week. ¶2. "Don't Let Free Trade Float Away" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun editorialized (7/31): "...The U.S.'s face-to-face confrontation with China and India, whose influence has been increasing in international trade due to their rapid economic growth, can be deemed a historic development. This appears to indicate a change in the dynamics at WTO talks and a decline in the power of the U.S., which has long led WTO talks with its strong economic power.... Leaders from China, India, and other nations took part in the Toyako summit along with the G8 nations. The U.S. should recognize that we now live in an era in which the international community cannot tackle global issues, including climate change, without a spirit of give and take." ¶3. "Who Will Protect World from Protectionism?" The business-oriented Nikkei's editorial contended (7/31): "The ghost of protectionism is about to rise from its grave.... The free trade system, which has sustained global economic growth, is currently facing a serious crisis. Developed nations have taken the initiative in making international rules, and developing countries have followed them. However, this era has ended. The breakdown of the recent WTO ministerial illustrated the hard fact that the dynamics of the world order have changed." SCHIEFFER