politics

Abe, Xi agree on need for 'free, fair' trade

19 Comments
By Kiyoshi Takenaka and Chang-Ran Kim

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19 Comments
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Profound.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to work together to promote "free and fair trade" in talks on Thursday

(Sarcasm alert!)

Funny, never knew these two even knew the meaning of the words "free and fair". Learn something new every day!

2 ( +7 / -5 )

I highly suspect that for both of them, their definition of 'free and fair' is 'gimmie yours while I give you none of mine.'

2 ( +6 / -4 )

What... 1.4 Billion people and agriculturally China is not what one could say, clean or has high quality fruits and vegetables. While Japan grows some of the best fruits and vegetables in the world. The Chinese, like any people, love to eat the highest quality of food products.... and Japan can grow them. Going forward, much of Japan's best will probably go to the highest and closest bidder, and that be China. The Japanese will not be able to afford their own domestically grown products. I see a day when the Japanese Government will require that a certain percentage of domestically grown fruits and vegetables, must be sold in Japan and not exported.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

First, Japanese Prime Minister is Abe Shinzo, not Shinzo Abe. Second, China-Japan ties have historically been friendly and amicable, not strained.

Yes, Japan's World War Two aggression has hurt Chinese feelings, and 80% Japanese current generation is still hostile to Chinese people. But China has 1.4 billion people, and majority of them are friendly toward Japan. Democratically speaking, if you believe that democracy means majority, the current relationship is still friendly.

I am proud of Abe Shinzo for his efforts to get the relationship back from the stupid "nationalization" stint of Senkakus. No one will fight these Islands with China, not even a Japanese citizen, unless he is insane.

Nest year, when Grandpa Xi visits Japan, all Japanese should come out to show welcome. We can't be beaten by Koreans in hospitality.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

So both have agreed on “free and fair” trade, but not rules based or remotely commiserate to any recognised definition of a free and equal playing field.

However Libra/blockchain stable/full payments network will force change.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

China has long hit foreign cars with a 25% tariff, for which globalists remained silent. It agreed to cut the tariff last year, only after Trump yelled about it.

If we are to get "free and fair," it isn't going to come from the WTO or the globalists or even the mainstream Western political parties. It's going to come about by extremist leaders speaking loudly, which the establishment had never bothered to do, and for which they are now paying the price.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Did they also agree on China's need to "copy", I mean steal, Japanese businesses IP, clone entire stores verbatim, and play the victim in such cases?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

As long as neo-liberal ideals continue to dominate policy decisions free FAIR trade will continue to be an oxymoron.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

How nice of Abe to talk business with a government that preaches utter hatred of Japan from a young age, throughout school, and we'll into adulthood

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@SaikoPsycho, I couldn't agree more with your view. But, remember, Japan just signed on to a few trade agreements that will provide a channel, if you will, for products to move one way or another. It's a simple matter of opening the gates.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Half of Osaka closed off and thousands of police deployed at great cost so Abe can sprout his wisdom on trade.

Amazing Japan!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to work together to promote "free and fair trade" in talks on Thursday

(Sarcasm alert!)

> Funny, never knew these two even knew the meaning of the words "free and fair". Learn something new every day!

exactly! Makes about as much sense as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to work together to promote "freedom, democracy, and human rights"

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Half of Osaka closed off and thousands of police deployed at great cost so Abe can sprout his wisdom on trade.

> Amazing Japan!

And we have the Olympics to look forward to in Tokyo next year! Oh joy! Oh ecstacy!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Prime Minister Abe Sinzou is thinking in his mind. "Freedom, democracy, and human rights. None of these is a word that does not exist in China. Please say after you go to bed".

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

So, first off, get them to retreat from their illegal occupation of outposts all across the Pacific.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What a bunch of informative and intelligent comments up there. Those look just sarcastic but I might be wrong.

Nest year, when Grandpa Xi visits Japan, all Japanese should come out to show welcome. We can't be beaten by Koreans in hospitality.

> This is the best. Sure I will TRY. and join human wave. Right?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japan needs China, just compare the populations and the brains and the history. It is abe that have to wise up.

abe is still thinking America is great. Who is lying here ???.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

First, Japanese Prime Minister is Abe Shinzo, not Shinzo Abe

The Japanese have been using first name, last name conventions when writing in English for over 100 years. It's a cultural tradition.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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