US Trade Pressure

Published in Nishinippon Shimbun
(Japan) on 17 March 2018
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Deborah Chapin. Edited by Tiana Robles.
The 11 countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, excluding the United States, signed a new agreement in Chile. Next, each country is going to advance ratification procedures that could even come into effect this year if they hurry.

First, I would like to welcome the approaching implementation of a free trade zone in the Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, the United States announced that import restriction measures on steel and aluminum would come into effect on March 23, shaking up the free trade system that supports world economics. It is urgent for the 11 countries, along with Europe, to cooperate and oppose the United States’ trade pressure.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership aims not only to reduce or abolish tariffs on participating nations but also to form a new, advanced trade system in broad fields, such as investments, services, intellectual property and e-commerce.

The United States withdrew from the TPP, and a part of the original was invalidated, but it is estimated that the gross domestic product would be up by 7.8 trillion yen.

The administration plans to present an approval agreement draft and related bills during the current legislative term. In the deliberations, I hope they will steadily advance procedures for ratification, after a thorough discussion of the concerns that remain in the agricultural division.

The implementation would be a strong message for the promotion of free trade, in the midst of the spreading movement of self-protectionism in the United States.

In contrast, what should be considered “out of the question” is that the United States announced measures that impose additional tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum.

The U.S. explained that it invoked these tariffs for security reasons because the steel industry in the U.S. will be ruined by an influx of inexpensive steel from overseas which will invite the decline of defense contractors. This is selfishness in the extreme. Furthermore, in taking this action, the U.S. seeks a contribution plan for itself because of trade and military burdens and is also considering exemptions. These moves are blatantly sly and welcome the debasement of the grace and the dignity of the country called the United States of America.

The import restrictions may increase the movement of U.S. steel industries, but the employment of steel-related industries will take a drastic downturn and there are many calculations that indicate this will be terribly negative for their own country. In response to this movement, if each nation or region counters with high tariffs on U.S. products, it could, unfortunately, open the path to trade wars. There should be an immediate withdrawal, and for that reason, each country should cooperate.


米国を除く環太平洋連携協定(TPP)参加11カ国が、南米・チリで新協定「TPP11」の合意文書に署名した。各国は今後、国内の批准手続きを進め、早ければ今年中にも発効したいとしている。
 まずはアジア太平洋地域に自由貿易圏の実現が近づいたことを歓迎したい。片や米国は鉄鋼、アルミニウムの輸入制限措置を23日から発動させると発表し、世界経済を支える自由貿易体制に揺さぶりをかけている。11カ国、そして欧州も連携して、米国の通商圧力に対抗することが急務だ。
 TPP11は、参加国の関税の削減・撤廃だけでなく、投資、サービス、知的財産、電子商取引など幅広い分野にわたり、高度で新しい通商秩序づくりを目指す。
 米国が抜け、オリジナル版の一部項目を凍結したが、政府は国内総生産(GDP)押し上げ効果は7兆8千億円と試算している。
 協定承認案や関連法案を政府は今国会に提出する予定だ。国会審議でまだ残る農業分野の懸念などを十分議論した上で、批准への手続きを着実に進めてほしい。
 発効は米国を筆頭に保護主義的な動きが広がる中、自由貿易推進の力強いメッセージとなろう。
 これに対し、まさに論外と言うべきなのは米国が鉄鋼に25%、アルミニウムに10%の追加関税を課す措置を発表したことだ。
 発動理由は安全保障上の脅威で、国外からの安価な鉄鋼の流入で米国の鉄鋼業が疲弊し、軍事産業の衰退を招くとの理屈だ。手前勝手も甚だしい。その上、発動をちらつかせつつ、通商・軍事負担面での米国への貢献策提示を求め、適用除外も検討するという。露骨かつ狡猾(こうかつ)で、米国という国家の品位や威信の失墜を招く措置だ。
 輸入制限発動で米鉄鋼業界の設備稼働率は上がるが、輸入の制限で鉄鋼関連業界の雇用は大幅に減り、自国にとってもマイナスとの試算も多い。発動に対して、各国・地域が米国産品に高関税で対抗すれば貿易戦争の道を開いてしまう。即刻撤回を求めたい。そのためにも各国は連携を強めたい。
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