U.S.-Japan Common Economic Challenges dialogue

On January 3, 2016, Sasakawa USA participated in the third meeting of the High-Level Working Group on Japan-U.S. Common Economic Challenges. The private meeting in San Francisco brought together distinguished economists and former government officials from both countries for a private exchange on key economic issues.

The Group focused discussion on the economics of cyber security, China’s economic prospects, quantitative easing and secular stagnation, and trade and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

About the Working Group:

The High-Level Working Group on Japan-U.S. Common Economic Challenges, established by Sasakawa USA, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation Japan and the Peterson Institute for International Economics, debuted in June 2014 with a private discussion followed by a public seminar in Washington, D.C.

At the event, distinguished economists and former government officials from both countries discussed topics including productivity slowdowns and monetary policy, long-term fiscal sustainability, the effectiveness of fiscal policy and public investment and TPP negotiations. A publication based on the papers presented and the proceedings of the conference was published and is available here.

It was the first high-level economic dialogue between Japan and the United States in more than a decade, something which Sasakawa USA Chairman and CEO Admiral Dennis Blair said was an important milestone for two countries that “share a wide array of common economic interests.”

A second private discussion in Tokyo in December 2014 was followed by a public lecture by Dr. Adam Posen, a former member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England and President of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

The intent of the group is to provide a forum for frank, substantive exchange on the key economic issues facing Japan and the United States. Participants hope and expect to generate both significant policy advice and new applied research ideas, and an important unofficial back channel for communication between leaders of both countries.