Japan's Possible Entrance into Free Trade Agreement Sparks Controversy

The government of recently inaugurated Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has been under increasing U.S. pressure to join a Pacific Rim-wide free trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Noda faces stiff opposition to the initiative, both from domestic lobbies that do not want to see increased foreign competition and a trend in the Japanese population toward an internal focus. Thus, despite its benefits — and a strong push by the United States, which wants Japan's participation in the TPP as an economic bulwark against China's growing influence — Tokyo is unlikely to join.