This is the main reason why it will be difficult for Japan to conclude the proposed trilateral FTA, despite Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s recent endorsement of it. Indeed, only a looser FTA that would exclude each country’s sensitive economic sectors appears to be viable.
但日本领导人也受到了来自两个方面的压力。如果坐视韩国继续签定自贸协议，那日本就将丢掉美国和中国的市场。一旦有所行动，国内反对派又会把他们赶下台。这就是为何日本首相野田佳彦最近为三边自贸协议鼓与呼，却难以达成该方案的主要原因。事实上，只有一个不包含各国敏感经济部门的松散自贸协议才似乎是可行的。