pan, number of Japanese tourists, and
Job exports to Japan while being the
state with the 4th largest japanese
population and Japanese company
employment. In geopolitical context,
Japan is one of our most important
allies.
regulations factor into establishing
trade, but at the end of the day indus-
try sets a lot of these themselves. Its
up to them to decide if the contract
arrangement makes practical sense
in terms of cost, economic benefits
and the factors previously outlined.
The roll for policy in that conversa-
Clara Gillispie is the Senior director tion is often about setting the most
of trade and energy affairs at the Na- beneficial environment for open
tional Bureau of Asian research. She flexible markets. To put it in specific
started by saying she is asked if this is terms is the outlook for our United
the golden age of gas and her answer States and Japan energy trade under
was that it is incredibly on and off. the Trans-pacific trade agreement. It
She means that the price is so open flourished because we are starting at
to fluctuation that it depended on the base were we have similar sys-
the day you ask the question. When tems, interest, and open transparent
asked what factors to take into ac- markets. United States policy restricts
count when establishing trade with natural gas to free trade countries. Ja-
various countries due to differing pan being one of them, the policy sets
regulation, She specifically focused certain exemptions that are vaguely
on how questions regarding Pros- stated saying you will export natural
pects for resource nationalism and gas if it is in our economic, national,
contract sanctity are often addressed. and environmental interest. It raised a
Differing governments and policy number of questions for our partners
because this pushed back at some of
the language we had requested on
other agreements. We have wanted
to see free open markets and raised
the question about the opportunity
of energy to be politicized. That’s a
statement that the United States a lot
of push back impart because we have
had such good trade relations with
japan and short of this agreement we
have seen exports go forward.
Overall the speakers were optimis-
tic regarding our future alliances and
trade in East Asia. Their points were
well structured and argued. The dis-
cussion creates a platform for other
likeminded individuals wanting to
seek out knowledge on international
matters to converse in a personable
environment. The United States must
strengthen and expand our alliances
if we are to ensure global security.
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