ABSTRACT
In recent years, the world has witnessed a significant backlash against globalization. However, Japan is a puzzling outlier: while it shares many characteristics with countries like the United States and the United Kingdom that are experiencing waves of populism and protectionism, it has not followed their trajectory. Indeed, although it was often criticized during the post–World War II period for its slow trade liberalization, Japan has made a striking transition from a laggard to a leader on trade issues. Why has Japan attempted to counter anti-globalization forces in the international system, and how has it sought to do so? This chapter addresses these questions through an examination of Japanese politics and foreign policy, with particular attention to the period after the Brexit referendum and the election of Donald Trump in 2016 until the end of the Trump administration in January 2021. It argues that due to a combination of external and internal factors, Japanese policymakers have recognized the importance of the liberal international economic order for their national interests, and importantly, Japanese leaders have had the flexibility to defend this order because their country has not experienced widespread domestic protectionism or anti-global populism. Consequently, Japan has attempted to bolster trade institutions, rules, and norms through a mix of five strategies: 1) direct persuasion, 2) signaling commitment, 3) acting as a US surrogate, 4) negotiating new trade agreements, and 5) supporting existing institutions
