Policy Change and U.S.-Japan Aviation Agreement

－ Political Economy of U.S. Aviation Policy Process toward Japan －

Abstract

This study examined the policy change of the U.S. Department of Transportation as it abandoned the original fullliberalization open skies policy and concluded the interim agreement with Japan. The study revealed that the DOT position was heavily influenced by the U.S. airline industry. Individual firms actively participated in the policy process and the industry position was essentially developed as their majority voice. DOT, however, was not a mere agent representing the US airline industry. It clearly defined its role in ensuring the market competition. The study demonstrated the validity of pluralism and the two-level game approach in illustrating, respectively, the domestic political process and international negotiation, and highlighted the limit of realism to the international negotiation.