What is the truth of “Corn and Abe buy all!” September 19th 14:57
“Prime Minister Abe told me to buy corn.”
It was this that President Trump stressed in the joint presentation.
Corn ... Not subject to this US-Japan trade negotiation.
However, the American media reported “corn” more than “trade negotiations” themselves.
The negotiations were said to take "three years if normal." As a result, it is going to end at the end of September, less than half a year.
A reporter who interviewed from the start of the negotiations reveals behind the scenes.
(Yutaro Yamamoto)
Abe buys all the corn!
“Maybe Prime Minister Abe wants to talk about purchasing additional corn.”
August 25, Biarritz, southwestern France.
G7 Summit = After a Japan-US summit meeting between the seven major summits, an unexpected joint announcement was suddenly established.
So Trump boasted the outcome of a trade negotiation between Japan and the United States that was expected to conclude, and cut out the story of corn like the beginning.
“Now we have a lot of corn in the United States, but because we are treated unfairly in China, we need a lot of payment. Rejoice.
Can you simply mention that we are planning to buy corn that has already been produced, worth hundreds of millions of dollars? "
In this way, Abe was urged to speak. Abe responded as follows.
“From the viewpoint of pest control, Japan also needs to purchase. This is a deal at the private level, but the private sector also decides that it must make a purchase in an urgent manner. I think I can do it.
Other than that, I would like to consult with the president a lot. "
And playing cards.
"The Japanese private sector listens very well to the public sector. I'm not sure, but it's probably a little different from the US. I'm very happy to hear that the (Japanese) private sector has agreed to this."
In short, what I'm saying is
“Shinzo, say 'buy the extra corn!' Because American farmers are pleased.”
That would be true.
However, buying American corn is not the Japanese government but the private sector.
This additional purchase of corn is not subject to US-Japan trade negotiations. However, it was featured in the news both in Japan and the United States.
In particular, in the midwestern United States where agricultural products are prosperous, a welcome voice was raised.
In this urgent joint announcement, President Trump was in a great mood.
The reason became clear through interviews with relevant parties.
That was the last meeting.
“Please talk about purchasing corn from Shinzo.”
Trump asked Abe:
Japanese government officials read Trump's heart.
“Trade negotiations have reached a broad agreement, but not a formal agreement.
If you talk about corn, you can show it as a result. ''
From “Agreement” to “Signature”
The US-Japan trade negotiations concluded in an unusually short period of about five months.
There was such a movement in the background.
This is between the Japan-US summit meeting and the joint announcement.
In the waiting room on the American side, there was a minister in charge of economic regeneration at that time.
He had been discussing the contents of the presentations with the light trader representative of the trade representative, who is his negotiating partner.
The content was that the two leaders agreed to aim for an “agreement” at the end of September.
It was Yasaki who thought he was calm.
"Trump says he wants to meet Abe again"
Appearing on the spot was Kushner, Trump's daughter-in-law and senior advisor.
A government official said that he had a bad feeling.
What was held was a “meeting” before the joint announcement.
It was so irregular that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mistakenly announced “the second summit meeting”.
On the spot, Trump said to Abe, “I ’m going to announce it now. Let's say“ sign at the end of September ”.”
I asked.
"Signature", not "Agreement".
Abe and Motegi were struck by the imagination of an offer that cannot be negotiated.
The two said they stared for a few seconds.
If it is an “agreement,” they just agreed on the content of the trade negotiations. About the agreement document, the contents should be packed with the dude's office and then signed formally.
On the other hand, when it comes to “signature” suddenly, the situation is different. The agreement document must be completed without any single letter error. After that, it is submitted to the Diet and deliberated.
The Japanese view was that legal and technical checks were necessary, and it took at least a few months for such clerical work, and it was not in time for the remaining one month.
However, Mogi immediately thought that it would be unavoidable to say such a thing to Trump.
“Prime Minister,“ I want to sign ”, is n’t it?”
Abe also agreed on that line.
From “Agreement” to “Signature”. It was the moment Trump said that the goal of concluding negotiations was brought forward all at once.
And the joint announcement mentioned earlier was set up quickly.
It was a hustle and bustle that the Japanese media was not in time for the venue.
The policy that was proposed was to “aim to sign the agreement at the end of September”.
Along with “intelligible results” of “corn”.
Trump rushed to achievement
"It was a scene symbolizing this negotiation."
Government officials who looked at the joint announcement made by the Japanese side drinking the “September“ signature ”” policy with little time to look back.
Later, Motegi will be around
“We are moving faster than expected, but need more speed”
He said with a bitter smile.
The US-Japan trade negotiations, which are trying to reach an unusual speed, were struck by Trump's intention to “achieve results quickly”.
The background is the American presidential election next fall.
Last year, the TPP = Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement came into effect without the United States.
With the conclusion of the EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) with the EU = European Union, tariffs on agricultural products exported to Japan from Asia and Europe are gradually decreasing.
On the other hand, tariffs remain high from the United States. American farmers are in a very disadvantaged position in the Japanese market.
“Corn” is a symbol of that.
Trump, aiming for re-election, is urged to quickly show the results in the agricultural field to the country.
The US-Japan trade negotiations and “corn” clearly showed the impetus for Trump.
Super bullish negotiations and playing cards
It is not only the Japanese side that felt Trump's impatience.
American negotiators must have felt stronger.
"Take everything you can get"
The traditional negotiating policy of superpower America is super bullish. It did not change for Japan.
Let's go back to the story when the negotiations began. One month has passed since the start, and May.
In the third ministerial talks held in Tokyo, Lightheiser was fighting from the beginning.
Since it started at 7pm, the Japanese side prepared a sushi for dinner so that it could be pinched in between meetings.
But Lightheiser never spoke.
Of course, I don't hate sushi.
The boss Lightheiser doesn't eat, so no American companion can speak.
With the sushi gradually becoming dry and flaming, Lightheiser said that Japan was most afraid to break down the stagnation of negotiations.
“If this is the case, our boss (Trump) may hit“ 232 ”. I may not be able to stop it. Accept the request of
“232”
This is Article 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which is the basis for additional tariffs on automobiles considered by the US.
Currently, the tariff rate for exporting Japanese cars to the United States is 2.5%, but Trump is also considering raising it to 25% at a stretch because of threats to security.
"If you want to avoid additional tariffs on cars, don't mess up with American claims."
It was a warning from Light Heiser to Motegi.
Lightheiser is the “tough negotiator” of Gachigachi who served as the second representative of the Trade Representative Division in the Reagan administration. Many trade negotiators have been cryed by their strong attitude. The venue was in tension.
In response to such a request from Light Heiser, Mogi said “Please”.
And Mogi connected these words.
“If you hit“ 232 ”, you can hit it. In that case, Japan has negotiated in good faith, but the United States unilaterally hit“ 232 ”. Willing to.
By the way, do American farmers agree? "
It was said that Lightheiser had no more “232” than the Mogi tree system, which suggested that it would not respond to the market opening of agricultural products.
However, everyone on the spot felt that negotiations with the United States that chose no means would be harsh.
Negotiations are "I lose more when I am impatient".
The negotiations between Japan and the United States that have been promoted while listening to Trump's complexion.
It wasn't until August that there was a change in the American hard posture.
At the ministerial talks in Washington, Lightheiser said "Suddenly entered the summary mode" (negotiator).
According to government officials, Trump had instructed Lightheiser to show some success in the middle of April, when full-scale negotiations began.
Lightheiser also consulted Motegi about how to get the president to convince him that it was impossible.
Since then, Trump has continued to send out a sense of schedule that people concerned are suspicious of, such as “There is a possibility of a conclusion in May” and “A good announcement can be made in August”.
"I can't extend any more"
The fact that Lightheiser's impetus has led to this early conclusion is the actual feeling I have interviewed.
“This is not something that Japan unilaterally yields, and there is no hesitation in deliberating the Diet.
Japanese negotiators who rarely speak optimism tweeted and confidently struck.
What is the important agreement?
Prolonged US-China trade friction. It seems that the reimbursement of additional tariffs does not stop.
In addition, parliamentary approval of a new trade agreement between Mexico and Canada is not progressing.
Isn't President Trump's unfaithful feeling that a visible result is needed as much as Japan with a friend Shinzo?
Pushed by President Trump's strong intention, the negotiations between the United States and Japan are about to be concluded.
However, details of the agreement have not been revealed at this time.
The Japanese government stresses that “the result will be beneficial to both the US and Japan.” Was Japan's profit really secured? Have you heard about President Trump's complexion and aren't it going to be a disadvantage to Japan?
It is necessary to examine the contents closely and examine them carefully.
Mogi was appointed as Foreign Minister by remodeling the cabinet, and the negotiation skills demonstrated this time were evaluated.
Also, there is no guarantee that President Trump will be swayed by the unpredictable President and there will be no guarantee that the next will be a trade negotiation.
The situation that I do not feel like how to face President Trump will continue for the time being.
(The titles in the text are omitted.)