Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's promise to call a snap election "soon" has probably put an end to Japan's prospects of joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks by year's end, and also complicated the adoption of a new national energy strategy.
Noda's ability to move forward on critical trade and energy issues is considered unlikely with a general election looming and his lame-duck administration no longer in a position to determine major long-term policies.
The government must announce whether it wants to join the TPP by the end of the month in order to become a participant by year's end, given the time required for approval by the U.S. Congress.