On February 4th, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement was signed by 12 Asia-Pacific countries after five plus years of intensive negotiations. TPP countries account close to 40 percent of the global economy and almost 30 percent of global exports. The TPP is central not only for the U.S. “rebalance” to Asia, but also to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “third arrow” of structural economic reforms. The TPP is expected to strengthen in a larger context the U.S.-Japan bilateral alliance, a cornerstone in the region.

Despite these potential gains, challenges remain as both Washington and Tokyo seek to navigate their respective political landscape to implement this agreement. What are those prospects for the legislative approval process of TPP in Japan, the United States and other TPP countries? How can the US and Japan cooperate to bring this deal into effect? What are the TPP’s main benefits to Japan and the U.S. from a bilateral, regional and multilateral perspective? What are the long-term strategic implications with or without the TPP in achieving the enduring peace and prosperity for the entire Asia-Pacific region?

As part of Asia Society’s “Season of Japan,” the Asia Society Policy Institute and the Japanese Embassy are pleased to invite you to our event “Japan and the Trans-Pacific Partnership” featuring opening remarks from Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae, Ambassador of Japan to the United States followed by a panel discussion moderated by Wendy Cutler, ASPI Vice President and Washington Managing Director, with Ambassador Hiroshi Oe, Deputy Chief Negotiator for TPP, The Government Headquarters for TPP; Bruce Hirsh, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Japan, Korea and APEC Affairs at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; Satohiro Akimoto, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Global Relations at Mitsubishi Corporation; and James Fatheree, President of the U.S.-Japan Business Council.

To register, please email [email protected].