U.S. President Bush revealed in diplomatic documents seeking "help" in trade friction

In 1990, the then President of the United States, Bush, repeated the words "help" in a meeting with Prime Minister Kaifu, saying "I need the help of the Prime Minister" over the "Japan-US Structural Talks" that suffered from trade conflicts. , It became clear in the published diplomatic document that it was seeking the cooperation of the Japanese side.

The "Japan-US Structural Talks" argued that the cause of the trade imbalance was the structure of the Japanese economy and society in 1989, when the trade friction between the two countries was intensifying, and called for correction. It started in response to that.

The United States had increased pressure on the Japanese side in the previous year by enacting the "Super 301", which allows unilateral countermeasures to be invoked if trade practices are considered unfair.

The published diplomatic document records the contents of the summit meeting held with President Bush in March 1990, the year after the structural talks began, when then Prime Minister Kaifu visited the United States.

At the parley, President Bush turned from a hard-line stance on the table and explained the domestic situation in which he was in a difficult position with the US Parliament over trade friction, and then said, "SII = Japan-US structure. Regarding the discussions and the individual projects of "Super 301", I would like to get the Prime Minister's "help" by all means. "I repeated the word" help "three times and asked the Japanese side for cooperation.

In response, Prime Minister Kaifu responded, "I am fully aware of the views on" Article 301, "and I will do my utmost to do my best."

President Makoto Iokibe of the University of Hyogo, who is familiar with Japan-US diplomacy, said, "President Bush suffered from public opinion in the United States with resentment at the mountain of deficit with Japan, and objectively strongly demanded from Japan. That's why Japan gets angry and shows a strong opposition, and it's a problem if the United States is out of control. I think there was a figure to act to achieve that purpose. "