But deregulation is unlikely to proceed with any vigor in Japan, and a primary focus on it would trap the administration in a discussion of an extraordinarily broad topic, which the Japanese government would try to keep at a high level of generality. The administration should certainly remain engaged on this issue, but not as the central, high-prole focus of policy. At least the administration appears to have chosen to discuss only a few issues under the rubric of deregulation, based on existing sectoral access problems. The approach sketched above would continue or accelerate progress in lowering trade barriers in Japan. It will certainly yield further tension, since it proposes an active pursuit of market access problems that the Japanese government will vigorously oppose at the negotiating table and in the media.
Tension is unavoidable, but it can be managed with greater attention to the public message.