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Japan, U.S. to push back 1st round of trade talks to Aug.

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President Donald Trump will push for a bilateral free trade agreement

A bilateral free trade deal between Japan-USA will be the envy of the World, and much bigger than entire TPP. Better to delay the Summit a little to make sure everything is sorted out and ready in September. This will be an excellent deal for both Japan and USA who already have booming economies.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

A bilateral free trade deal between Japan-USA will be the envy of the World

Japan would be bonkers to sign trade deals with the US when the US economy is on the verge of collapse. Better to wait until after the collapse, when Japan has the upper hand.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

@ strangerland - USA economy “on the verge of collapse.” Evidence please, or else its just opinion. USA and Japanese economies are growing at excellent levels, very low unemployment in both nations, stock-markets at record highs and very big Corporate profits.

Bi-lateral trade deal will be win-win for Japan and USA.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

@ strangerland - USA economy “on the verge of collapse.” Evidence please, or else its just opinion

It’s the opinion being expressed by an increasing number of economists, some of whom accurately predicted the collapse of 2008.

And of course it’s opinion. Do you know someone who can read the future?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

1/3 of households in Japan on edge of bankruptcy: BOJ study

On JT right now. So Japan is prospering? Not for 1/3 of Japan. Oh, and Japan GDP is shrinking, not booming as incorrectly stated above. And shall we talk about Japan's national debt at 250% of its GDP last year? Where do these people get these crazy ideas about the Japanese economy, it is at best flat to slightly shrinking. As has been the case for the last 28 years.

The Japanese economy contracted 0.2 percent on quarter in the three months to March of 2018, following a downwardly revised 0.1 percent growth in the previous period while markets expected no growth, preliminary estimates showed.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

@ zurconium - that quarter was anomoly. Next figure will be a boost, after summer bonus kicks in. Stocks and corporate profits are surging.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

A one on one bilateral trade agreement between the US and Japan, that is fair to both countries is the only way to go.

Japan has bilateral trade agreements with other countries, such as Australia, Australia is a member of TPP, yet also has a separate bilateral trade agreement with Japan, that seems to be good for both countries. So why not America? Ray Payne, American citizen.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

A one on one bilateral trade agreement between the US and Japan, that is fair to both countries is the only way to go.

Why would Japan do that? It would be stupid of them. Why tie their economy even closer to one that is too volatile, and too likely to collapse within the next two years? Crazy risk. Japan is better doing what they've been doing - creating trade agreements with other countries, to ensure their economy is shielded from the volatility of the broken American economic and political system.

Japan has bilateral trade agreements with other countries, such as Australia, Australia is a member of TPP, yet also has a separate bilateral trade agreement with Japan, that seems to be good for both countries. So why not America?

Because the election of Trump showed that the American system and/or people are broken. We need to insulate ourselves from further bad moves made by America, which hurt all of our economies. We can no longer allow America to rule the world economy - they'll bring us down with them when they sink.

No, America wanted America first, and America only, so let America be first by itself like it wanted. That's the only way we can protect ourselves.

Any trade agreement signed with America is like a slave asking its master for more punishment. Wait until America's economy has collapsed as a result of being at trade war with the rest of the world. They may be more amenable after that. Though I don't count on it - Trumpians seem to double down on failure, rather than reflecting and adjusting accordingly.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Japan would be bonkers to sign trade deals with the US when the US economy is on the verge of collapse. Better to wait until after the collapse, when Japan has the upper hand.

I think I broke Gambare Japan. He's not too sure whether his pro-Japan troll persona should be agreeing with what I said, or his pro-trump troll persona should be disagreeing with what I said.

It's hard being a troll in this nuanced age...

6 ( +7 / -1 )

"Because the election of Trump showed that the American system and/or people are broken."

I can't stop laughing at this statement. Broken? America is doing well under the guidance of President Trump, and constantly improving the US economy. Ray Payne, American citizen.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

Broken?

Yep.

America is doing well under the guidance of President Trump, and constantly improving the US economy.

Yes, we outside America understand that this is what you've been told to believe. Or maybe we're the ones who are wrong, and actually America is just fine and it's all of us who are sick of Trump and his BS that are wrong. If that's the case, then it's probably not the best idea to feed into our delusions, by calling us 'foe', and starting trade wars with us, particularly since we can just cut you out of the game and deal with each other instead.

If Trump truly is making things better for you, and your economy doesn't end up crashing, and does well, great. I have no problem with that. I'd rather have everyone doing well, than doing poorly. The more people on the planet who are in a good place, the better.

But, as an outsider, not being fed a constant stream of American news/propaganda (on either side), I look at your president, and what he's doing with your country, and I see an absolute mess. Getting aggressive with everyone in the room at the same time is a really, really bad strategy. America didn't get where it is alone, it got there through the strengths of the American system, as well as the cooperation with other countries in the world. Trump has forgotten that second half, and is putting America on a really, really bad trajectory. I hear talk of rich people trying to park assets outside the country, to soften the blow of the collapse they see coming. I see right-wing economists predicting a recession by 2020, if not 2019, and I worry.

Trump is feeding the lie that a trade imbalance somehow indicates the success of a trade agreement. We are talking elementary economics here, it's not complex. The degree of success of a trade agreement is the degree to which a country profits off that agreement. In America's case, they have been profiting off the agreements due to the brainpower in America. The work-horse of America however is not a recipient of this money, and the disaffection, combined with a low understanding of how economics work, leaves them very susceptible to believing things like 'a trade imbalance is bad for America'. The elite wants you to believe this lie, because it means you don't look closely at the elites. If you think Canada, Europe, or China are your enemies when it comes to trade, you are missing the point that trade with these countries is exactly what made America as rich as it is. Look where the money is. Who benefits the most from the current globalization and trade agreements? The elite. That's right, Global Don, who has been doing business everywhere for decades, is suddenly claiming that those people he was doing business with are the enemy. Um, then why are you so bloody rich Don? You people are too trusting of the words of the snake oil peddler. Look not at his words, look at his actions...

4 ( +6 / -2 )

"Trumpians seem to double down on failure."

I have always looked at failures- as learning experiences, as the US is now experiencing- and learning about unfair trade.

With unfair trade, America has an annual 800 billion trade deficit. Trump wants fair trade for all countries. The statistics show, America is not receiving fair trade. The numbers are there and those statistics cannot be denied.

Ray Payne, American Citizen.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

learning about unfair trade.

Ok, so you've realized that America has benefited far more from its existing trade agreements than it has suffered? Or are you still believing that lie that your elite are telling you, that you can judge the success of a trade agreement by whether or not there is a trade imbalance?

With unfair trade, America has an annual 800 billion trade deficit.

There are two problems with this sentence. First, America has had overly 'fair' trade for decades. And the 800 billion dollar trade deficit means nothing. America has the largest economy in the world, which it has ended up with as a result of this trade deficit, not in spite of it. You're believing the lies your elites are telling you.

The statistics show, America is not receiving fair trade.

No they don't.

The numbers are there and those statistics cannot be denied.

Yes, I think we can assume the statistics are accurate enough to have use. However, while the statistics may not change, the interpretation of them can be manipulated to tell a story to deceive the people, manipulating them into not looking at the real problem. Stories such as 'a trade deficit means that trade is unfair'.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

"I hear talk of rich people trying to park assets outside the country, to soften the blow of the collapse they see coming."

Interesting comment, as I see just the opposite.

It is a well known fact, that countries such as China and Japan- have and are continuing to invest heavily in the future of the United States of America.

Ray Payne, American Citizen.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

It is a well known fact, that countries such as China and Japan- have and are continuing to invest heavily in the future of the United States of America.

No, it's not a well-known fact. That's just what they've told you in America. We don't get that bubble news out here in the rest of the world. I understand you people have come to believe this is truth, and that's your right, but the rest of us see the truth for what it is, even if you are unable to.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

"Um, then why are you so bloody rich Don? You people are too trusting of the words of the snake oil peddler. Look not at his words, look at his actions..."

Why do some people so bitterly resent people that are rich? Bloody is a clue.

Yes, we do look at Trumps words and actions. I and millions of Americans like what we see.

Ray Payne, American Citizen.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Why do some people so bitterly resent people that are rich? Bloody is a clue.

They don't, generally speaking, resent people who are rich.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Why do some people so bitterly resent people that are rich?

I don't resent the rich. I'm a self-made capitalist. I want to be bloody rich myself. Resenting the rich would make me self-hating, and I'm not.

The fact that you would so completely mistake my motivations behind disliking Trump should be a bit of a sign that maybe you aren't as good at evaluating the truth of people's claims as you think you are.

Yes, we do look at Trumps words and actions. I and millions of Americans like what we see.

Well, hopefully you're right and he makes everything all glory and rosy.

It's really, really doubtful though. You can't just suddenly start a trade war with the entire world and actually expect to win. But just like in the 2008 stock market crash, Trump will come out richer.

The guy is an amazing speaker, no doubt about that. It's too bad the people are so willing to buy his snake oil.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

"It is a well known fact, that countries such as China and Japan- have and are continuing to invest heavily in the future of the United States of America."

"No, it's not a well-known fact. That's just what they've told you in America."

Amazing that this is not a well known fact. For a start with only two, how about the Japanese auto industry in America. How about China now owning one-fourth of all pork products in America, with the Smith-field Ham labels. Some people may be living in the dark ages.

Ray Payne, American Citizen.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Why do some people so bitterly resent people that are rich? Bloody is a clue.

It's probably the boasting and emphasis on the worship of mammon that riles, somewhat. As if money means everything. It's vulgar and boorish.

Yes, we do look at Trumps words and actions. I and millions of Americans like what we see.

The lies, the threats, the hypocrisy, the cronyism, nepotism and trashing of his country.

Ray Payne, American Citizen.

Toasted Heretic, Not a Putin-bot.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japan would be bonkers to sign trade deals with the US when the US economy is on the verge of collapse. Better to wait until after the collapse, when Japan has the upper hand.

The US economy is doing quite well actially.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Good to see that Motegi isn’t following ‘Cool Biz’ when out of Japan- just shows how two-faced politicians are here.....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Amazing that this is not a well known fact.

It would have to be a fact for it to be one that is well known.

For a start with only two, how about the Japanese auto industry in America. How about China now owning one-fourth of all pork products in America, with the Smith-field Ham labels.

They can make money off those whether America's economy collapses or not. If the economy crashes, the cost to make the pigs drops, and China ends up more profitable.

Some people may be living in the dark ages.

And some people may be living in a bubble, believing the lies they are told by their elite.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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