アジア経済連携 ＴＰＰテコに日本が主導せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 25, 2012)
Japan should take lead in regional trade pacts
アジア経済連携　ＴＰＰテコに日本が主導せよ（11月24日付・読売社説）

New initiatives have been launched to create two huge free trade blocs in Asia. Japan will face a test as to whether it can work out a strategy to expedite such moves to boost its economic growth.
　アジアで新たに二つの巨大な自由貿易圏作りが動きだした。日本の成長促進へ、同時に推進する戦略が問われよう。

In Phnom Penh, 16 countries--Japan, Australia, China, India, New Zealand, South Korea and the 10 members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations--announced the start of negotiations under a regional comprehensive economic partnership (RCEP).
　日中韓と、東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）１０か国、インド、豪州、ニュージーランドの計１６か国がプノンペンで、包括的経済連携（ＲＣＥＰ）の交渉開始を宣言した。

The 16 nations are scheduled to begin the negotiations in early 2013 and aim to conclude terms, such as on tariff cuts and partial liberalization of investment in the region, by the end of 2015.
　１６か国は２０１３年初めに交渉をスタートさせ、域内関税の引き下げや投資障壁の削減などについて１５年末までの妥結を目指す。

The combined gross domestic products of the RCEP nations total 20 trillion dollars, accounting for 30 percent of the global economy. This trade initiative is based on a vision Japan proposed. It would be significant to create a free trade zone that would include new economic giants China and India.
　ＲＣＥＰは、国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）の合計が２０兆ドルに達し、世界の３割を占める経済圏だ。日本が提唱してきた構想がベースになっている。経済大国に成長した中国とインドを含む自由貿易圏を構築するメリットは大きい。

Hopes are high for the RCEP because the outcome of its negotiations could help Japanese companies expand their exports. The firms could also find it easier to develop international supply chains, which would link their production bases at home and in the RCEP region. This could pave the way for them to exploit Asia's dynamics to shore up their businesses.
　交渉次第で日本企業の輸出拡大が期待できる。国内と域内の生産拠点をつないだ国際的なサプライチェーン（供給網）も整えやすくなる。アジアの活力を取り込むビジネス展開の道が広がろう。

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Trilateral talks start next year

Japan, China and South Korea have also agreed to start trilateral free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations next year.
　日中韓３か国は併せて、自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）の交渉を来年開始することでも合意した。

Japan and China remain in a state of confrontation over the Senkaku Islands, while Japan's relationship with South Korea has become tense over the Takeshima islands. It is reasonable for the Japanese government to separate such territorial rows from trade issues and enter the negotiations, giving priority to the economy. We hope the government will seek early trade agreements.
　日中は尖閣諸島、日韓は竹島を巡って対立しているが、領土問題を切り離し、経済優先で交渉に踏み出したのは妥当だ。早期合意を目指してもらいたい。

The launch of negotiations under these two trade frameworks was apparently prompted by China's concerns. Beijing appears to be wary about the strategy of the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama to increase his country's influence in Asia by promoting the Trans-Pacific Partnership multinational free trade talks.
　二つの枠組みで交渉開始が決まった背景には、中国の思惑がうかがえる。中国は、米オバマ政権が環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉を推進し、アジアでの影響力増大を図っていることを警戒しているからだ。

To counter the TPP framework, which excludes China, Beijing has made its stance clear that it will push for the RCEP and the trilateral FTA, which do not involve the United States.
　中国抜きのＴＰＰに対抗するためにも、米国が非メンバー国のＲＣＥＰや日中韓ＦＴＡを重視する方針を鮮明にしたと言える。

Apart from these, China has also agreed to create a free trade bloc under a framework, called the Free Trade Area of Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), which comprises 21 members such as Japan, China and the Untied States.
　これとは別に、日中や米国など２１か国・地域は、地域全体をカバーするアジア太平洋自由貿易地域（ＦＴＡＡＰ）を将来的に実現する方針でも合意済みだ。

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U.S., China rivalry to intensify

The FTAAP has no clear prospects. In the meantime, the tug-of-war between the United States, which is focusing on the TPP, and China, which is attempting to make the RCEP central to the region's economic activities, is expected to intensify.
　ＦＴＡＡＰへの道筋は不透明だが、ＴＰＰを軸にする米国と、ＲＣＥＰを中心に据えたい中国との綱引きが活発化するだろう。

Meanwhile, Japan has come under pressure over its trade policies. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has repeatedly said his government "will pursue the TPP, the FTA among Japan, China and South Korea and the RCEP at the same time."
　問われるのは日本の通商政策だ。野田首相は「ＴＰＰ、日中韓ＦＴＡ、ＲＣＥＰを同時並行的に推進する」と繰り返している。

First of all, Japan should speed up work to join the TPP talks as early as possible. The government then should use the TPP participation as a catalyst to proceed with negotiations for the RCEP and the trilateral FTA for the nation's benefit. We also hope Japan will win the terms it is seeking in the TPP negotiations.
　日本はまず、ＴＰＰへの早期参加を急ぐべきだ。それを弾みにＲＣＥＰや日中韓の交渉を有利に進め、ＴＰＰ交渉でも自らの主張を反映できるようにしたい。

Amid competition between the United States and China, Japan needs to take the initiative in forming economic partnerships in Asia while protecting its interests.
　米中のせめぎ合いの中、日本の国益を守りつつ、アジア経済連携を主体的に作る必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 24, 2012)
（2012年11月24日01時34分  読売新聞）