DEMARCHE DELIVERED: G20 NATIONS ON REJECTING

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003322 SIPDIS EEB/TPP/MTAA FOR NAFZIGER USTR FOR MORROW E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2018 TAGS: EFIN ETRD PREL ECON WTRO JA SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: G20 NATIONS ON REJECTING PROTECTIONISM REF: STATE 125609 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (SBU) Emboff delivered demarche points (ref) December 1 to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) G8 and Economic Policy Division Deputy Director Wataru Otsuka on the need to open trade and investment and to reduce protectionism in moving forward to a stable global financial system. ¶2. (C) Japan is "on the same page" with the United States on this issue, said Otsuka. Noting high-level USG concerns and the relevent language in the G20 declaration, Otsuka said MOFA is already preparing briefing materials on the topic to be used during the December 8-9 G8 Sherpa meetings in Tokyo. EMIN also delivered the points to Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) Multilateral Trade Director General Hideo Suzuki, who agreed with the U.S. position. ¶3. (C) In a separate conversation December 2, Otsuka told Emboff Japan had raised its concerns about new protectionist measures with Russian counterparts. SCHIEFFER