Trade and technology: maintaining the U.S.-Japan security relationship in the post-cold war era.

Abstract

The mainstay of Japan's domestic and foreign policy successes after the Occupation has been its economic prowess. The reforms implemented throughout the Occupation, combined with the strong Japanese concepts of loyalty and willingness to work, proved successful ingredients for a healthy economic recovery. Many restrictive policies and protectionist practices were implemented in an effort to ensure the survivability of Japan's newly restructured industrial base. The end of the Cold War and emergence of a new emphasis on economic-related factors has resulted in strong criticisms from both the United States and Japan and is causing them to reevaluate the nature of their relationship. This thesis examines the role of trade and technology in U.S. -Japan relations in the post-Cold War era. If trade/ technologyrelated tensions continue to grow, they may become detrimental to the mutually favorable relationship. The danger is that they will undermine the U.S. -Japan relationship. The challenge is to find a basis for compromise.