FREE AND OPEN INDO–PACIFIC AS THE NEW BASIS OF JAPANESE TRADE POLICY IN THE ASIA–PACIFIC REGION

Abstract

The consequences of the APEC summit held on November 17–18, 2018 are analyzed. It is emphasized that the summit ended with little or no result due to the growing trade and economic contradictions between theUnited StatesandChina, which have the potential to significantly weaken trade and economic ties in the Asia-Pacific region. Under these conditions, after theUSwithdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP),Japanis increasingly taking the path of bilateral and regional agreements with the countries of the Asia-Pacific Region, including the People's Republic ofChina.Japanconsistently pursues this policy in the framework of the strategy of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Region proclaimed in 2016. This strategy will allowJapanto insure itself against the possible eventual occurrence of the American-Japanese trade war, taking into account the fact thatJapanhas a growing positive balance in trade with theUnited States.Japanhas all high hopes on the establishment of a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership with the participation of 16 countries. At the same time, the APR is increasingly becoming a zone of military rivalry between the states of this region, which is an additional factor complicating the ongoing development of Japan’s trade and economic ties with many APR countries.