<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><a href="http://thehill.com/policy/finance/318980-us-japan-will-form-economic-dialogue" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114);" class="">http://thehill.com/policy/finance/318980-us-japan-will-form-economic-dialogue</a><o:p class=""></o:p></div><h1 style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 24pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">US to form economic dialogue with Japan<o:p class=""></o:p></h1><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class=""><span class="submitted-by">By Vicki Needham - </span><span class="submitted-date">02/10/17 02:52 PM EST</span><o:p class=""></o:p></div><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">The U.S. and Japan will form an economic dialogue aimed at deepening their relationship that could propel the two allies toward bilateral trade talks.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday that he and President Trump had agreed that Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso and Vice President Pence would helm a group of government leaders to address strategic and economic issues facing the two nations.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">"I'm quite optimistic that good results will be seen from the dialogue,” Abe told reporters at the White House.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">The new dialogue will be "a big chance for both Japan and the United States but of course it must be done in a fair manner," he said.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" class="">Earlier this week, Japanese media had reported the possibility of the new framework, which was suggested by Japan to the Trump administration.<o:p class=""></o:p></div><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">Abe was expected to come to Washington and urge Trump to reconsider withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">The Japanese leader was cautious when answering questions about the ramifications of the U.S. leaving the TPP behind. Japan ratified the deal last month. <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">“Of course were are fully aware of President Trump’s decision,” he said.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">He argued that the U.S. and Japan should build "a free and fair market based on rules" in the Asia-Pacific region. <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">"That was the purpose of TPP and that importance has not changed," he said. "I myself believe that."<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">But Trump gave no indication that Abe's arguments for the 12-nation deal were changing his mind. <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">Trump said he would “seek a trading relationship that is free, fair and reciprocal, benefiting both of our countries.”<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">The president also mentioned lowering domestic taxes to increase exports and, responding to a question about China, mentioned that he would “level the playing field” on currency manipulation, a delicate issue for U.S. trading partners. <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">Neither Japan nor China have been deemed to be manipulating their currencies.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">In a further note about trade issues, Abe offered that state-owned companies should not intervene in economies and that intellectual property should be protected.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">The two leaders are flying to Florida later Friday and are set to play golf on Saturday, when they will continue their wide-ranging discussions. <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">"As for Japan and the United States, trade and investment as far as economic relations, [we have to see] how we can develop and grow our relationship," he said. <o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">"Furthermore, in the Asia-Pacific where we see dramatic growth, to expand free trade and investment,” Abe said.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">Japanese media reported that Japan will be represented by Aso — who also is the finance minister — as well as Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Defense Minister Tomomi Inada and Minister of Economy and Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">The U.S. side is expected to include Pence, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary James Mattis and Commerce Secretary nominee Wilbur Ross.</p><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div></body></html>