The Japan America Society of Southern California will present “Japan and the TPP” on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Paul Hastings LLP, 515 S. Flower St., 25th Floor, Los Angeles. Program from 5:30 to 7 p.m., networking reception from 7 to 7:30 p.m.
The TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) is a sweeping trade agreement proposal involving the U.S. and eight other Pacific Rim nations – Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Peru and Vietnam. Last year, Japan announced it would begin consultations with TPP countries toward joining the TPP negotiations. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is considering joining TTP negotiations “under the right conditions,” but he faces domestic opposition as well as a challenge to his leadership.
A panel of experts will provide a timely update on the ongoing discussions, as well as an assessment of Japan’s readiness to meet the TPP’s high standards for liberalizing trade and to address specific issues of concern. Scheduled to speak are:
• Wendy Cutler, assistant U.S. trade representative for Japan, Korea and APEC affairs. She is responsible for developing and implementing U.S. trade policy towards Japan and Korea, and for trade and investment initiatives in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. She was the chief U.S. negotiator for the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, signed in June 2007.
• Consul General Jun Niimi of the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles. A graduate of Tokyo University’s Faculty of Law, Niimi’s previous assignments were to England, France, Iran, Kenya, Russia and Thailand. More recently, he was deputy director-general of the Trade Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and assistant vice minister at the Foreign Ministry.
• Brian K. Peck, adjunct professor, USC Gould School of Law. His main areas of expertise include international trade law and remedies, trade-related intellectual property matters, international negotiations, and international trade policy. Peck was senior director for intellectual property at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative from 2003-2005, and director of Japanese affairs from 2001-2003.
Admission is $35 for JAS members, $45 for non-members and guests. For the reception only, the cost is $20.
Pre-registration is required for security. Bring your photo ID to enter building. Register by Monday, Oct. 8. To RSVP, call (213) 627-6217, ext. 205, or visit www.jas-socal.org.
Validated 3-hour parking is available at the City National Plaza Parking Garage, located at 400 S. Flower St. at the 4th Street signal light.
Cooperating organizations: American Australian Association, Asia Society Southern California, Foreign Trade Association, TOWN HALL Los Angeles, Women in International Trade.