Keidanren-USA hosts a number of events series featuring speakers who discuss trade, economic, political and cultural issues of interest and concern to the Japan and Asia business and policy communities. 

Heads Up:  Heads Up is an invitation-only program series giving corporate executives, business organizations, scholars, government officials and the diplomatic community a venue to discuss and exchange views on key economic and political issues in Japan, US-Japan and Asia relations.  Past speakers have included US government officials responsible for trade policy, such as Wendy Cutler, the Assistant USTR for North Asian Affairs, Congressional staff,think tank and university scholars and business leaders.

On February 11, 2009, Keidanren-USA welcomed Toshio Obi, professor of Asia and Pacific Studies and Public Management at Waseda University in Tokyo, to be our last Heads Up program speaker.  He discussed the current Japanese domestic political situation, prospects for the next Diet elections and their potential impact on Japan-US relations.  Kent Calder, director of the Reischauer Center at SAIS, served as a discussant.

On January 30, 2009, as part of our Brookings joint program series, Keidanren-USA and the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies (CNAPS) co-hosted China expert Kenneth Lieberthal, Brookings Visiting Fellow and a professor at the University of Michigan.  Dr. Lieberthal gave a preview of a report he co-authored with David Sandalow, Brookings Senior Fellow, recommending ways for the United States and China to overcome obstacles to cooperation in addressing climate change.  He also discussed areas where Japan can play a positive role in moving forward on this global challenge.

On December 16, 2008, Daniel Russel, director of the Office of Japanese Affairs at the U.S. Department of State discussed the state of U.S.-Japan relations and some of the economic and political challenges facing the relationship in the coming year.  

On November 6, 2008, Dr. Kent Calder, Director of Japan Studies and the Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), discussed recent leadership changes in Japan and the domestic and international economic policy options facing the world's second largest economy.  He took wide ranging questions from the audience of diplomats, U.S. government officials and scholars, including questions about the future of the LDP party, and US-Japan relations under an Obama Administration.

On October 21, 2008, Keidanren-USA hosted two senior scholars from the Heritage Foundation, who gave their perspectives on the U.S. elections and its impact on U.S.-Asia relations.  Michael Franc, Vice President of Government Relations, and Walter Lohman, Asian Studies Center director, discussed the policy differences between the two candidates on a range of issues, including trade, Japan, China and Taiwan.

On September 29, 2008, Brookings scholar Tom Mann, a noted expert on US campaigns and elections, gave his predictions on the outcome of the 2008 U.S. Presidential and Congressional elections.  His talk was the fourth in a joint policy program with Brookings' Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies (CNAPS).  Our co-host, CNAPS Director and Asia specialist Richard Bush, followed with his views on how the elections may affect US-Asia relations.

Ambassador Jeff Bader, the China Center director at the Brookings Institution, was our featured speaker on June 2, 2008.  Ambassador Bader discussed policy challenges in Asia facing the United States in the next several years.  This event was part of an ongoing series examing vital issues in Japan-US and US-Asia relations co-sponsored by Keidanren-USA and the Brooking Institution's Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies (CNAPS). 

On May 15, 2008, Grant Aldonas, former Under Secretary for International Trade at the U.S. Commerce Department and currently Principal Managing Director at Split Rock International, Inc. and an advisor to Senator John McCain's Presidential campaign, discussed possible U.S. trade policies toward Japan and Asia under a McCain Administration.  Mr. Aldonas said that Senator McCain embraces the US-Japan relationship, believes Japan is central to America's Asia economic policy, is willing to sit down and encourage China to be part of the global economic system, and would not support an Asia region economic organization that excludes the United States.  He answered questions from the audience on a range of issues, including the prospect of a bilateral FTA/EPA with Japan, the role of APEC, and a McCain Administration's strategy with regard to working with Congress to implement his trade agenda.

On March 21, 2008, Keidanren-USA hosted Richard Jackson, Director and Senior Fellow at the Global Aging Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and a leading policy specialist on demographic and aging issues.  Dr. Jackson addressed some of the critical policy challenges facing aging societies in Japan and East Asia.

On Febuary 29, 2008, Richard Bush, Senior Fellow and Director for Northeast Asia Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution, discussed the implications of the Taiwanese Presidential elections of 2008. He predicted that the KMT would win and push for greater cross-strait economic integration and stability. The proposed referendum to push for Taiwan's entry into the UN would also be neutralized with an ascendant Kuomintang. The US and Japan would benefit from increased regional stability.

On January 24, 2008, Jim Zumwalt, Director of the Office of Japanese Affairs at the US State Department, discussed major political and economic issues facing the United States and Japan in 2008.  He took wide-ranging questions from the audience on issues including whaling, government-to-government mechanisms for raising economic disputes, and U.S. homeland security laws and their impact on international trade.

On December 4, Bill Reinsch, President of the National Foreign Trade Council, discussed the 110th Congress' trade agenda and trade legislation likely to be considered in 2008.  Mr. Reinsch was the trade advisor to Senator John Heinz and Senator Jay Rockefeller from 1973-93 and the Under Secretary of Commerce for the Bureau of Export Administration during the Clinton Administration.

In October 2007, veteran election analyst and executive editor for The Hotline, John Mercurio, discussed the 2008 Presidential and Congressional races and foreign policy differences between some of the major Presidential candidates before a large audience of Japanese and American business executives and industry organizations.

In September 2007, Keidanren-USA launched a quarterly policy program series with the Brookings Institution’s Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies (CNAPS).  Our inaugural speaker was Dr. Wing Thye Woo, a Brookings senior fellow and renowned international economist.  Dr. Woo discussed rising trade protectionism in the United States, particularly toward China, and the effectiveness of legislative and Administration responses being considered. 

Bento Box Briefings:  The Bento Box briefings are off-the-record meetings between senior Keidanren corporate members and government officials and business leaders.  Kurt Tong, the Asian Economic Affairs Director at the National Security Council, and Viji Rangaswami, Deputy Staff Director for the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee have provided briefings in recent months.

Michelle O'Neill, Deputy Under Secretary for the US    Commerce Department's International Trade Administration briefed Keidanren members on the role the Commerce Department plays in US trade policy formulation and enforcement on July 29, 2008.  

Frank Vargo, Vice President for International Economic Affairs at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), was the 2008 kick off speaker on January 10.  He discussed the state of the manufacturing sector in the United States and the possible impact of the political landscape on trade legislation.

Joint Program Series:

The US-Japan Business Dialogue:  Keidanren-USA also co-hosts a business dialogue with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  During these quarterly meetings, Japanese and American corporate executives and leaders meet to exchange views on common concerns on trade and economic issues.  Recent discussion topics have included prospects for a US-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, and the US Congress’ trade and business agenda.

As part of our joint discussion series, Keidanren-USA hosted a July 16, 2008 policy luncheon for senior Japanese and US corporate representatives. Kurt Tong, outgoing Asian Economic Affairs Director, NSC, White House, and Michael Beeman, Deputy Assistant US Trade Representative for Japan, briefed members on recent government activities affecting bilateral political and economic relations.  Kurt Tong discussed the results of the July 7-9 G-8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit and bilateral discussions between President Bush and Prime Minister Fukuda.  He was followed by Mr. Beeman, who briefed members on the 2008 bilateral report submitted under the US-Japan Regulatory Reform and Competition Initiative.