Jun 8, 2017   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Sponsors Symposium on Asia-Pacific Economic Integration and the Role of the United States and Japan

On Thursday, June 15, 2017, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), in conjunction with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, will hold a Symposium on Asia-Pacific Economic Integration and the Role of the United States and Japan.

Following President Trump’s election in 2016 and the United States’ subsequent withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), new questions have arisen about the future of economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region. Can TPP continue without the participation of the United States? What is the future of regional agreements like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) between ASEAN, Japan, China, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand? Experts from the U.S., Japan, China and Vietnam will examine the current status and future outlook for bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements in the Pacific. Their insights and perspectives will develop into a dialogue which will be of particular significance to the Midwest community with business and investment interests in East Asia.

Featured speakers will include: Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman and CEO, JETRO; Keith Williams, President and CEO and Trustee, Underwriters Laboratories LLC; Vo Tri Thanh, Vice President and Senior Advisor, Central Institute for Economic Management of Vietnam (CIEM); Ke Long, Senior Fellow, Economic Research Center, Fujitsu Research Institute, and Project Professor, Global Center for Asian and Regional Research, University of Shizuoka; Akio Takahara, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Tokyo; and Travis George, Executive Vice President and CFO, Molex Inc. The Honorable Naoki Ito, Consul-General of Japan in Chicago; Leslie Munger, Deputy Governor, State of Illinois; and Adlai E. Stevenson III, Chairman, Adlai Stevenson Center for Democracy, and former U.S. Senator, will also make remarks.

The event will be held at The Chicago Club (81 East Van Buren Street, Chicago, IL). Registration check-in will begin at 8:00 am.

This symposium is co-organized with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and supported by the Japan America Society of Chicago, the Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Chicago, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, INTERSECT Illinois, and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

This event is free; however, advance registration is required. Register online at: http://bit.ly/2pK7oCc

For more information, contact Ms. Kelly Highland at Kelly_Highland@jetro.go.jp.

About JETRO

JETRO promotes trade and investment between Japan and global markets. JETRO maintains 76 offices worldwide, including 6 in the USA. JETRO provides a range of services to companies interested in Japan, including market intelligence, temporary office space and business development assistance, all designed to encourage business partnerships between American companies and Japan. For more information, visit www.jetro.org.