Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO2352
2008-08-27 08:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

NEW METI DIRECTOR GENERAL ON WTO, BILATERAL AND

Tags:  ETRD PREL SENV JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002352

SIPDIS

STATE ALSO FOR USTR -- WCUTLER AND MROHDE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2018
TAGS: ETRD PREL SENV JA
SUBJECT: NEW METI DIRECTOR GENERAL ON WTO, BILATERAL AND
REGIONAL ECONOMIC TIES

Classified By: CDA James Zumwalt, Reasons b,d

(C) Summary: Newly appointed Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry (METI) Director General Hideichi Okada (Trade Policy
Bureau) told EMIN August 26 that progress in the WTO Doha
Development Agenda is "too meaningful to destroy." METI
Minister Nikai will encourage his ASEAN plus 6 counterparts
to support a strong statement in favor of the Doha round
during the economic ministers' meeting in Singapore later
this week. Okada also noted Nikai's planned phone
conversation Aug. 26 with WTO DG Lamy and the METI Minister's
interest in speaking the week of Aug. 31 with USTR Amb.
Schwab. In the introductory call, Okada noted the importance
of the U.S. and Japan continuing their close cooperation on
climate change/energy issues and agreed there are benefits in
ratcheting up bilateral economic relations, both in dealing
with beef and other outstanding issues, but in meeting
emerging developments, including in connection with regional
and global economic developments. Okada noted continued GOJ
interest in advancing the work of APEC and stated that
Japan's engagement with ASEAN and the ASEAN plus Three and
ASEAN plus Six frameworks did not come at the expense of
strong engagement with the U.S. in the region. End summary.

Doha
--------------

(C) Okada said the GOJ believes progress made in the Doha
Development Agenda was "quite powerful" and "too meaningful
to destroy." He noted that he had accompanied METI Minister
Nikai during his recent visits to Beijing, Seoul, and Geneva,
where they attempted to find ways to revitalize the WTO
talks. METI Minister Nikai planned to call Pascal Lamy
August 26 and also wants to arrange a telephone conversation
with USTR Schwab sometime the week of August 31st. EMIN
deployed earlier guidance on the DDA, but also noted the
reports of Japanese concerns over further agriculture market
opening. Okada stated all countries need to share the pain
to achieve a successful round.

Economic Regional Integration
--------------

(C) The new METI DG said Minister Nikai will travel to
Singapore August 27 for the ASEAN Economic Ministers,

meeting, where he will urge other ASEAN plus 6 members to
support a strong statement in favor of the Doha Round. Both
ASEAN plus 3 and plus 6 member countries are focused on
economic integration. Okada said that no one model offers
all the solutions. In addition to the alternatives for trade
agreements under consideration in the ASEAN plus 6 and the
ASEAN plus 3 talks, Singapore is a key promoter of countries
joining the P-4 free trade agreement between Chile, New
Zealand, Brunei, and Singapore. Regardless of the particular
configuration, Japan remains mindful of its economic
relationship with the United States, Okada said. It is
possible, he stated, to build a stronger engagement with the
U.S. at the same time Japan develops regional relations with
the ASEAN members and others in the region. He noted the
interest in proceeding with FTAAP.

Bilateral Economic Agenda
--------------

(C) Okada noted the GOJ remains interested in continuing our
close cooperation on climate change and energy security
issues. He also said he is thinking about the subcabinet
discussions and the level of engagement between the U.S. and
Japan versus the cabinet level discussions between the U.S.
and China and between China and Japan. Okada added he hoped
a new U.S. Administration would continue the high level
dialogue, albeit at the cabinet vice the subcabinet level.
EMIN suggested while process is important, it is essential
that any process lead to results. He noted too the remarks
made in the December subcabinet discussions about the need to
take steps to fulfill the promise inherent in discussions
between the world's two largest economies, resolving
outstanding problems and looking to steps to advance work on
investment and other market opening issues.

TOKYO 00002352 002 OF 002



BioNote
--------------

(C) Okada, who was executive assistant to PM Koizumi from
2001 to 2006, has prominently displayed a number of pictures
of himself with Koizumi and President Bush in his office,
including one of himself with the two leaders and their wives
taken just before the President's state dinner for the
visiting Prime Minister. Okada also pointed out a piece of
calligraphy done by Koizumi and given to Okada a few days
before Koizumi left office. After working for Koizumi, Okada
became a senior research fellow and the Research Institute of
Economy, Trade and Industry and then became a visiting
scholar at UC San Diego's School of International Relations
and Pacific Studies and a visiting scholar at Harvard Law
School. After returning to Japan in 2007 he became METI DG
for Commerce and Information Policy and then moved over this
July to run METI's Trade Policy Bureau when the previous
incumbent moved up to the Vice Minister slot.
ZUMWALT