Open AccessGeo-economics and the Hub and Spokes system: the Japanese case
Author(s) -
Ricardo Vega
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
estudos internacionais
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.112
H-Index - 2
ISSN - 2317-773X
DOI - 10.5752/p.2317-773x.2021v9n3p33-52
Subject(s) - scope (computer science) , commercial policy , economics , balance (ability) , hegemony , international trade , promotion (chess) , trade barrier , international economics , political science , politics , medicine , computer science , law , physical medicine and rehabilitation , programming language
This paper examines the reasons why Japan has been building a foreign trade policy based on a hub-and-spokes system. It will be argued that trade efficiency and exports promotion are assumptions that need a broader reconsideration through a geo-economics approach. What defines Japan’s pursuit of several bilateral trade agreements is assuring its relative economic hegemony whilst changes in the world balance of power are taking place. As Japan faces an uncertain and unforeseeable future, it needs to strengthen its trade policy to guarantee access to international markets. Japan’s trade policy goes beyond the efficiency scope and it entails a geo-economics elucidation.