Social Demand and State Capability in Safeguard Policy

Abstract

In the 1960s and 1970s, Japan’s export drive provoked successive trade frictions with developed countries. In particular, disputes between Japan and the United States occurred, involving various products including textiles, colour televisions, steels and general machinery. The friction threatened their overall diplomatic relations as well as the international trading system (Bergsten and Noland 1993; Lincoln 1999). Thirty years later, Japan stood in a defensive position against increased imports from neighbouring countries, especially China. Several basic industries that have suffered from rising import pressure have demanded that the government introduce import restrictive measures. In particular, trade friction over the invocation of safeguard measures against Chinese products became a serious issue, attracting interest as a turning point of Japan’s trade policy.