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April 20, 2005
Friends when you need them
Some tentative chit-chat over an Australia-Japan free trade deal during Australian PM John Howard's visit to Tokyo. From the Sydney Morning Herald:
Before the talks with Mr Koizumi, John Howard played down the significance of securing a free trade agreement with Japan to the overall relationship between the two countries. "We are not talking here about inaugurating a free trade negotiation," he said. "We're talking about an examination, a scoping study, a feasibility study -- whatever way you want to describe it." The relationship would stay strong even if nothing eventuated, he said.
Australia's two-way trade with Japan last year was valued at $44.3 billion and could be expected to grow, mostly in Australia's favour, if there was a free trade deal. The biggest beneficiaries would be the farming and services sector, analysts said.
The Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, visited Tokyo last month to pave the way for negotiations on a deal. But Australia has been unable to overcome the fierce opposition of Japan's agriculture officials and the farming sector.
But regardless of any delay in a trade deal, the two countries have been particularly chummy of late, a state of affairs which has manifested itself half a world away. I'm sure the Japanese loved the timing of Howard's visit -- it's nice to be reminded of friends in the region (though that's somewhat in dispute) when the big kid on the block is causing such headaches.
Posted by Daniel Widome at 12:57 PM to Asia,
