Now that U.S. President-elect George W. Bush has named his Cabinet and his inauguration is only days away, it might be useful to contemplate how Japan-U.S. relations may be affected and what might be done to strengthen this very important strategic alliance.
Some may believe that strategic alliance was thrown away forever during the Clinton administration as a result of the emphasis on the U.S.-China relationship. Now that China will be joining the World Trade Organization and debate on that is ended, however, attention will turn again to Japan, which still has, despite 10 years of difficulty, the second most important economy in the world.
The appointment of Norman Mineta as U.S. transportation secretary bodes well for this special relationship. Mineta served as commerce secretary for President Bill Clinton, following a distinguished 21-year career as a congressman representing a large part of California's Silicon Valley. He has a great record in support of free and fair trade.