ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Japan’s trade policy towards the Asia-Pacific by combining a domestic political economy approach and a systemic approach. Three questions are addressed. First, what domestic political factors influence the formation of a national position on trade policy? Second, what policy objectives did Japan pursue in trade policy towards the Asia-Pacific? Third, how have trade policy objectives evolved since the emergence of the Trump administration? Three major arguments are presented. First, prime minister’s leadership is a crucial domestic political factor in developing a national position on trade policy. Second, Japan pursued institutional balancing against China’s regional influence. Third, Japan began to develop new objectives in response to the Trump administration.
