Political will on world trade
(From The Japan Times Dec. 2 issue)

強い政治的意志をもって貿易拡大を

The global financial crisis triggered by the subprime mortgage fiasco in the United States has not only tightened credit but also shrunk demand, thus greatly harming the real economy. At a time when major economies face the danger of simultaneous recessions, leaders from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, in Lima, Peru, issued a special statement that said partly: "We are committed to reach agreement on modalities next month on the basis of progress made to date" on the seven-year-old trade liberalization talks under the World Trade Organization.

The leaders agreed that they would "direct our ministers to meet in Geneva in December to achieve that objective." Prime Minister Taro Aso should be aware of Japan's responsibility in the trade talks as the world's No. 2 economy.

The statement is a timely and welcome commitment from the leaders of the 21 APEC economies, which account for half of the world's economic output. It shows their awareness of the bitter lessons of the 1930s, when countries set up high trade barriers to protect their industries, leading to a sharp decrease in world trade, which in turn deepened the Great Depression.

The Doha round of trade talks collapsed in July due to a conflict between the United States, and China and India, over safeguard measures for restricting agricultural imports. APEC leadership will be especially important in striking a framework for a deal in the trade talks by yearend.

Although Japan needs to solve issues related to the agricultural sector, Mr. Aso should take necessary actions immediately so that the talks come to a successful conclusion. He needs to issue a clear signal that Japan is truly serious about the WTO talks.

Japan will have to accept large cuts in its tariffs on agricultural imports against strong resistance from domestic farmers. The government needs to consider how to overcome pains caused by the trade talks while strengthening Japan's farm sector. These cannot be achieved without strong political will and ingenuity.

主要経済大国が同時不況の危機に直面する中、ペルーで開かれたアジア太平洋経済協力会議（APEC>）は特別声明を採択、約7年間にわたる世界貿易機関（WTO）新多角的貿易交渉（ドーハ・ラウンド）の「細目合意について来月達成すること」を誓約した。

各国首脳は「関係閣僚にジュネーブで12月に会合するよう指示する」ことで合意した。世界経済第2位である日本が貿易交渉で果たすべき責任を麻生首相は十分認識すべきだ。

新ラウンドは、農産品の緊急輸入制限を巡る米・中・インドの対立で決裂しており、貿易交渉の枠組み締結にはAPECの統率力が重要となる。

農業分野での問題を抱える日本も早急な対応が求められる。WTO妥結への決意を示すべきだ。

関税削減に伴う痛みを乗り切り、国内農業を強化するには政治的意志と創意が必要だ。