Japan PM stresses importance of TPP trade
pact in Clinton meeting
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[September 20, 2016]
By David Brunnstrom
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Japanese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe met U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on
Monday and stressed it was important for the United States to ratify the
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal that she opposes, Japanese
officials said.
Abe and Clinton met for about 15 minutes at Abe's hotel in New York,
where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly, the officials
said. The meeting was held at Clinton's request, they said.
The two stressed the importance of strengthening the U.S.-Japan security
relationship and both outlined their known positions on the 12-nation
TPP, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The pact
has been agreed, but not ratified by the United States or Japan.
Clinton, the Democratic candidate in the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential
election, has opposed the deal, which is unpopular with labor unions and
environmental groups, although she championed it while serving as
secretary of state.
In a speech to U.S. business leaders in New York on Monday, Abe
described TPP as a "pillar" of the U.S. rebalance of policy emphasis to
Asia, which comes in response to China's rise.
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"Through the TPP, the U.S. can make clear its commitment to playing a
leadership role in the growing Asia-Pacific," he said.
"Japan and the U.S. must each obtain domestic approval of the TPP as
soon as possible," Abe said. "Success or failure will sway the direction
of the global free trade system, and the strategic environment in the
Asia-Pacific."
Abe said he would pursue TPP approval at an upcoming session of Japan's
parliament.
"Japan will spare no effort, and we count on the U.S. to do the same,"
he said.
On Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama engaged Ohio Governor John
Kasich, a high-profile political foe, to help press Republicans to
approve the TPP before he leaves office in four months.
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![](../images/092016pics/news_w39.jpg)
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton meets with Japan's
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a hotel in New York, U.S. September 19,
2016. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
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The unusual move is a sign of how the White House intends to make a
final full-court push to convince Republican leaders in the U.S.
Congress to approve the deal in a "lame duck" session after the
election.
The TPP has been pilloried by both Republican and Democratic
candidates.
Republicans traditionally have backed free trade deals, but their
presidential candidate, Donald Trump, has blamed them for U.S. job
losses and threatened to tear them up should he win.
Abe had no meeting with Trump, who has accused Tokyo of not pulling
its weight in its security alliance with Washington. The Japanese
officials said Trump had not requested a meeting.
(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
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