Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the significance of the inclination toward free trade agreements (FTAs), which is perceived as a historical shift in Japanese trade diplomacy. It outlines the historical course of Japanese trade policy, and presents an overview of Japanese FTAs. The book focuses on the factors that have driven or hindered the evolution of Japan's foreign economic policy from multilateralism to regionalism and bilateralism. It aims to examine the nature of the Japanese government's trade policy in the current climate of economic downturn. In particular, the book focuses on the domestic political process of FTAs/ Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations and investigates the cause of policy shift in Japan. The book highlights the theoretical and empirical contribution of the field of International Relations. The book concludes by demonstrating the evolution and implications of Japan's FTAs/TPP.