Nissan Seminar: Balancing Commerce and Diplomacy: Japan's Strategy for Economic Security

Convener(s): Roger Goodman and Kristi Govella

Speaker(s): Professor Christina Davis, Harvard University, and currently PPE Centenary Visiting Professor, Queen’s College, Oxford

At a time of global confrontation between China, the United States, and Europe on trade, climate change, and digital governance, Japan has emerged as a leader in defining economic security, advancing critical industries, and forging strategic partnerships. Despite a history of intra-bureaucratic rivalry, Japan now presents a united front in supporting free trade agreements like the CPTPP, shaping the G20 agenda on AI, and promoting the Free and Open Indo-Pacific initiative. This talk will explore how administrative reforms have enhanced Japan’s ability to align economic interests with foreign policy, enabling it to navigate geopolitical rivalries as a global economic power.