KUALA LUMPUR: Japan is keen to spearhead the Trans Pacific Partnership 11 (TPP11) and also holds out its hopes that the United States will eventually find its way back to the grouping, said a senior economic adviser to the government. Japan is prepared to wait patiently for the US to rejoin the grouping. On the Japan EU Economic Partnership Agreement which was recently agreed in principle, Ito said the EPA was akin to the TPP as the talks covered areas beyond tariff reductions. Ito said the Japanese growth strategy looks at realising the Fourth Industrial Revolution, increasing investment in new growth areas such as renewable and alternative sources, healthcare and education. On competition between China and Japan in Southeast Asia, he said “competitive influx’ was mostly on the infrastructure front as Japan has a stronghold on the automotive and electrical and electronics (E&E) industries.

Source: New Strait Times August 28, 2017 13:18 UTC