Being able to walk away is rule one

There is a lot of what might be politely termed “discussion” about the TPP (trans-pacific partnership). Not whether or not Japan should sign and ratify the protocol. Whether or not Japan should be party to the negotiations.

Some people have said Japan should join the negotiations so it will have a seat at the table and might perhaps be able to influence the outcome. Others have said, “don’t even think about it.” In fact, the people who are opposed to Japan’s joining the TPP — unknown details aside — have said Japan should not even be a party to the negotiations. “But,” calmer heads have suggested, “we can negotiate and then, if we don’t like the results, we can opt out.” This is entirely reasonable. But the anti-TPP crowd does not want to allow even that. So they have said it would be a grievous breech of diplomatic protocol not to sign an agreement you had a part in negotiating. Never mind that other countries do this all the time. “If you have any part in the negotiations,” they say, “you are honor-bound to accept the results.”

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So maybe the “no to negotiations” people win after all. If Japan cannot negotiate effectively, there is not much point in sitting at the negotiating table. Instead, Japan will be in the even-unhappier position of having to decide whether or not to accede to a protocol that other countries have negotiated.

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