FTA時代における日本の自動車産業

抄録

The makeup of the world automobile industry, against the dynamic backdrop of the emergence of new markets, has shifted from the past tone of trade friction to one of liberalization under the GATT framework, hand in hand with protection of regional interests through Free Trade Agreement (FTA) networks. In a very real sense, the past few years have brought a genuine turning point for the structure of global automotive trade.
For the Japanese auto industry, a sector characterized by extremely strong overseas ties, the conditions point to great difficulties for any prospects of surviving the international competition on its own. In view of this reality, there is a vital need to respect the spirit of the World Trade Organization to the greatest possible degree, while at the same time advancing economic partnerships on an ASEAN-wide basis to begin, while concurrently searching out means of fruitful alliance with China, South Korea and other key trading partners.
Looking to the future, it will be essential to establish an economic bloc spanning all of Asia, and mobilize the Asian automobile industry as the policy hub for further strengthening of the partnerships built up by the Japanese auto industry with North America and Europe to date. In more specific terms, this refers to the forging of a tri-polar policy axis bringing together Europe, North America and Asia, while realizing global governance that embraces the WTO, the environment, safety, standards harmonization and other aspects of the automobile field. For its part, the Japanese auto industry must do everything in its power to raise the international presence of Asia as a whole, while working hard to maintain economic interests and achieve international cooperation and prosperity for the automotive trade worldwide.