Withthundercloudsloomingoverthetrans-Atlanticeconomy,itwaseasytomissabrightpieceofnewslastweekendfromtheothercrucibleofworldtrade,thePacificRim.InHonolulu,whereBarackObamahostedasummitofAsia-Pacificleaders,Canada,JapanandMexicoexpressedinterestinjoiningninecountries(America,Australia,Brunei,Chile,Malaysia,NewZealand,Peru,SingaporeandVietnam)indiscussingafree-tradepact.Altogether,thepossiblemembersoftheTrans-PacificPartnership(TPP)produce40％ofworldGDP—farmorethantheEuropeanUnion. Regionaltradedealsarenotalwaysagoodidea.Iftheydistractpolicymakersfromglobaltradeliberalization,theyaretobediscouraged.ButwiththeDoharoundofglobaltradetalksshowingnoflickeroflife,thereislittledangerthattheTPPwillderailabroaderagreement;andbycuttingbarriers,strengtheningintellectual-propertyprotectionsandgoingbeyondawebofexistingtradedeals,itshouldboostworldtrade. ThecreationofawiderTPPisstillsomewayoff.Forittocomeintobeingitsarchitects—Mr.Obama,whofacesatoughelectionbattlenextyear,andJapan’sYoshihikoNoda,whofacescronypoliticslacedwithpassionateprotectionism-needtoshowmoreleadership. Mr.Noda’sannouncementonNovember11ththatJapanwasinterestedinjoiningtheTPPnegotiationswasanexceedinglyboldmove.SigningupwouldmeandramaticchangesinJapan,acountrywhichhas800％tariffsonriceandexports65vehiclestoAmericaforeveryonethatissenttoJapan.Mr.Noda’smovecouldalsotransformtheprospectsoftheTPP,mostobviouslybyunitingtwooftheworld’sleadingthreeeconomiesbutalsobygalvanizingothers.Untilheexpressedaninterest,CanadaandMexicohadalsoremainedonthesidelines.Unwittinglyornot,Mr.NodahasthrustmercantilistJapanintoacentralpositiononatradetreatyinwhichfreemovementofeverythingexceptlaborisonthetable. ImmenseobstaclesloomforMr.Noda.HecameintoofficeinSeptembercastinghimselfasaconciliatorofJapan’swarringpoliticalfactions.ManyofthosegroupsareopposedtotheTPP.Farmco-operatives,whichfeathermanyapolitician’snest,arguethatitwouldrobJapanofitsriceheritage.DoctorswarnoftheriskstoJapan’scherishedhealthsystem.SocialistsseetheTPPasaWashington-ledsideswipeatChina,whichhadhopedtobuildanEastAsiantradeorbitincludingJapan.Mr.NorawillhavetocontendnotjustwithoppositionfromrivalpartiesbutalsowithasplitontheissueinsidehisDemocraticPartyofJapan. SinceHonolulu,Mr.Nodahasalreadypanderedtoprotectionistsbywateringdownhismessage.HavingbeamednexttoMr.Obamainasummitphoto,hethenprotestedthattheWhiteHousehadoverstatedhisintentiontoputallgoodsandservicesupfornegotiation.Polls,however,suggesttheJapanesearecryingoutforLeadershipontheissue,notpusillanimity.MoresupporttheideaofenteringTPPnegotiationsthanopposeit.OntheirbehalfMr.NodashouldleadJapanforthrightlyintothediscussions,confidentthatthecountrycanbargainwellenoughtogiveitssacredindustriessuchasfarmingandhealthcaretimetoadjust. ItisalsoatestforMr.Obama’snewstrategyofcopingwithChina’sriseby“pivoting”AmericanforeignpolicymoretowardsAsia.HemuststanduptotheunionsinthecarindustrywhichhavelongbellyachedabouttheimbalanceoftradewithJapan.Heshouldenergeticallypromotethepotentialgainsforjobsofhispro-Asiastrategy-bothathomeandabroad.AmericashouldalsostressthattheTPPismeanttoengageandincorporateChina,ratherthanconstrainit. SuchstepswouldhelpwinsupportinJapan,whilecostingAmericalittle.AndinjoiningtheTPP,Japanwouldbeforcedtoreformhideboundpartsofitseconomy,suchasservices,whichwouldstimulategrowth.ArevitalizedJapanwouldaddtothedynamismofamoreliberalizedAsia-Pacificregion.Thatissurelysomethingworthfightingfor. WhichofthemajorityofthefollowinggroupshasMr.Noda’sdecisiontojointheTPPnegotiationsgainedsupportfrom?
A.His Democratic Party of Japan
B.Farm co-operatives and doctors
C.Socialists and protectionists
D.The public
正确答案是D