Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Japan braced for Clinton's trade agenda

Richard Lloyd Parry
Wednesday 18 November 1998 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

THE UNITED States attackedJapan for an "inexcusable" failure of leadership at the Asia-Pacific economic summit yester-day as President Clinton prepared for what promises to be an uneasy official visit to Tokyo.

As summit meetings between Asian, American and Pacific leaders ended in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, Charlene Barshefsky, the US trade representative, reacted bitterly to Japan's rejection of a proposal to reduce trade tariffs throughout the region, which had been the main purpose of the meeting.

"Japan refused to exercise any leadership and that is inexcusable," she said at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum. "It is an unconscionable outcome. Japan was isolated and Japan will be called to account."

Mr Clinton is due to arrive in Tokyo this afternoon in what is turning out to be a difficult week for American-Asian relations. On Monday, the US Vice-President, Al Gore, provoked fury in Kuala Lumpur when he made a speech expressing support for Malaysia's reform activists who are campaigning for the resignation of the Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad.

Ministers described Mr Gore's remarks as "abhorrent" and "disgusting". Other delegations, including those from New Zealand and Australia, criticised what a Japanese spokesman called America's "megaphone diplomacy". The diplomatic row overshadowed the final communique.

t A woman in Tokyo suffered a fatal fall from a bridge while trying to watch the the Leonid meteors yesterday.

She was one of five people who died around the world while trying to watch the meteors. In Japan, where the timing of the shower was expected to offer ideal viewing, thousands of people turned out to view the shooting stars.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in