With thunderclouds looming over the trans-Atlantic economy, it was easy to miss a bright piece of news last weekend from the other crucible of world trade, the Pacific Rim. In Honolulu, where Barack Obama hosted a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders, Canada, Japan and Mexico expressed interest in joining nine countries (America, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam) in discussing a free-trade pact. Altogether, the possible members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership(TPP) produce 40％ of world GDP—far more than the European Union.
Regional trade deals are not always a good idea. If they distract policymakers from global trade liberalization, they are to be discouraged. But with the Doha round of global trade talks showing no flicker of life, there is little danger that the TPP will derail a broader agreement; and by cutting barriers, strengthening intellectual-property protections and going beyond a web of existing trade deals, it should boost world trade.
The creation of a wider TPP is still some way off. For it to come into being its architects—Mr. Obama, who faces a tough election battle next year, and Japan’s Yoshihiko Noda, who faces crony politics laced with passionate protectionism-need to show more leadership.
Mr. Noda’s announcement on November 11th that Japan was interested in joining the TPP negotiations was an exceedingly bold move. Signing up would mean dramatic changes in Japan, a country which has 800％tariffs on rice and exports 65 vehicles to America for every one that is sent to Japan. Mr. Noda’s move could also transform the prospects of the TPP, most obviously by uniting two of the world’s leading three economies but also by galvanizing others. Until he expressed an interest, Canada and Mexico had also remained on the sidelines. Unwittingly or not, Mr. Noda has thrust mercantilist Japan into a central position on a trade treaty in which free movement of everything except labor is on the tabl
- A.His Democratic Party of Japan
- B.Farm co-operatives and doctors
- C.Socialists and protectionists
- D.The public
正确答案及解析
正确答案
解析
从文章第五段可以看出，许多团体“opposed to the TPP”，其中包括A选项的“His Democratic Party of Japan”，B选项的“Farm co-operatives and doctors”，以及C选项的“Socialists and protectionists”。但是在第六段中提到民意调查显示日本需要跟多的领导权而不是犹豫不决，“More support…than oppose it.”由此看出D为正确选项。