Withthundercloudsloomingoverthetrans-Atlanticeconomy,itwaseasytomissabrightpieceofnewslastweekendfromtheothercrucibleofworldtrade,thePacificRim.InHonolulu,whereBarackObamahostedasummitofAsia-Pacificleaders,Canada,JapanandMexicoexpressedinterestinjoiningninecountries(America,Australia,Brunei,Chile,Malaysia,NewZealand,Peru,SingaporeandVietnam)indiscussingafree-tradepact.Altogether,thepossiblemembersoftheTrans-PacificPartnership(TPP)produce40％ofworldGDP—farmorethantheEuropeanUnion. Regionaltradedealsarenotalwaysagoodidea.Iftheydistractpolicymakersfromglobaltradeliberalization,theyaretobediscouraged.ButwiththeDoharoundofglobaltradetalksshowingnoflickeroflife,thereislittledangerthattheTPPwillderailabroaderagreement;andbycuttingbarriers,strengtheningintellectual-propertyprotectionsandgoingbeyondawebofexistingtradedeals,itshouldboostworldtrade. ThecreationofawiderTPPisstillsomewayoff.Forittocomeintobeingitsarchitects—Mr.Obama,whofacesatoughelectionbattlenextyear,andJapan’sYoshihikoNoda,whofacescronypoliticslacedwithpassionateprotectionism-needtoshowmoreleadership. Mr.Noda’sannouncementonNovember11ththatJapanwasinterestedinjoiningtheTPPnegotiationswasanexceedinglyboldmove.SigningupwouldmeandramaticchangesinJapan,acountrywhichhas800％tariffsonriceandexports65vehiclestoAmericaforeveryonethatissenttoJapan.Mr.Noda’smovecouldalsotransformtheprospectsoftheTPP,mostobviouslybyunitingtwooftheworld’sleadingthreeeconomiesbutalsobygalvanizingothers.Untilheexpressedaninterest,CanadaandMexicohadalsoremainedonthesidelines.Unwittinglyornot,Mr.NodahasthrustmercantilistJapanintoacentralpositiononatradetreatyinwhichfreemovementofeverythingexceptlaborisonthetable. ImmenseobstaclesloomforMr.Noda.HecameintoofficeinSeptembercastinghimselfasaconciliatorofJapan’swarringpoliticalfactions.ManyofthosegroupsareopposedtotheTPP.Farmco-operatives,whichfeathermanyapolitician’snest,arguethatitwouldrobJapanofitsriceheritage.DoctorswarnoftheriskstoJapan’scherishedhealthsystem.SocialistsseetheTPPasaWashington-ledsideswipeatChina,whichhadhopedtobuildanEastAsiantradeorbitincludingJapan.Mr.NorawillhavetocontendnotjustwithoppositionfromrivalpartiesbutalsowithasplitontheissueinsidehisDemocraticPartyofJapan. SinceHonolulu,Mr.Nodahasalreadypanderedtoprotectionistsbywateringdownhismessage.HavingbeamednexttoMr.Obamainasummitphoto,hethenprotestedthattheWhiteHousehadoverstatedhisintentiontoputallgoodsandservicesupfornegotiation.Polls,however,suggesttheJapanesearecryingoutforLeadershipontheissue,notpusillanimity.MoresupporttheideaofenteringTPPnegotiationsthanopposeit.OntheirbehalfMr.NodashouldleadJapanforthrightlyintothediscussions,confidentthatthecountrycanbargainwellenoughtogiveitssacredindustriessuchasfarmingandhealthcaretimetoadjust. ItisalsoatestforMr.Obama’snewstrategyofcopingwithChina’sriseby“pivoting”AmericanforeignpolicymoretowardsAsia.HemuststanduptotheunionsinthecarindustrywhichhavelongbellyachedabouttheimbalanceoftradewithJapan.Heshouldenergeticallypromotethepotentialgainsforjobsofhispro-Asiastrategy-bothathomeandabroad.AmericashouldalsostressthattheTPPismeanttoengageandincorporateChina,ratherthanconstrainit. SuchstepswouldhelpwinsupportinJapan,whilecostingAmericalittle.AndinjoiningtheTPP,Japanwouldbeforcedtoreformhideboundpartsofitseconomy,suchasservices,whichwouldstimulategrowth.ArevitalizedJapanwouldaddtothedynamismofamoreliberalizedAsia-Pacificregion.Thatissurelysomethingworthfightingfor. Whichofthefollowingmainmessageswasconveyedinthispassage?
A.An inspiring idea to liberalize transpacific trade hinges on the courage of America and, especially, Japan. B.TPP is meant to engage and incorporate China, rather than constrain it. C.The farming and health care industries in Japan would be severely affected by the TPP. D.TPP as a Washington-led sideswipe at China will win support in Japan and add to a more liberalized Asia-Pacific region.正确答案A
