ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an empirical analysis of the free trade agreements (FTA) between Japan and Singapore, the first ever such agreement concluded by Japan. It examines how and why the agreement was made, describes the key actors who either supported or resisted the agreement, and looks at how this resistance was overcome. The first section gives an account of factors within the international environment that were favorable to such an agreement, while the second section describes the composition and preferences of the various domestic actors. The chapter explains the economic relationship between the Japan and Singapore, as well as the political context at the time, in order to explain the reasons behind Singapore's proposal. The chapter investigates the pattern of opposition and cooperation displayed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, these actors within the negotiation process leading up to the successful conclusion of the FTA.
