Obama Suffers Setbacks in Japan and the Mideast

[Jesus Malverde]

President Obama encountered setbacks to two of his most cherished foreign-policy projects on Thursday, as he failed to achieve a trade deal that undergirds his strategic pivot to Asia and the Middle East peace process suffered a potentially irreparable breakdown.

Mr. Obama had hoped to use his visit here to announce an agreement under which Japan would open its markets in rice, beef, poultry and pork, a critical step toward the trade pact. But Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was not able to overcome entrenched resistance from Japan’s farmers in time for the president’s visit.

In Jerusalem, Israel’s announcement that it was suspending stalemated peace negotiations with the Palestinians, after a reconciliation between the Palestine Liberation Organization and the militant group Hamas, posed yet another obstacle to restarting a troubled peace process in which Secretary of State John Kerry has been greatly invested.

The setbacks, though worlds apart in geography and history, speak to the common challenge Mr. Obama has had in translating his ideas and ambitions into enduring policies. He has watched outside forces unravel his best-laid plans, from resetting relations with Russia to managing the epochal political change in the Arab world. On Thursday, as Russia staged military exercises on the border with Ukraine, Mr. Kerry denounced broken promises from the Kremlin but took no specific action.

Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/25/world/asia/obama-asia.html

[Cali_Democrat]

1. LOL

Media-declared setbacks.

The same media that pimps people like Cliven Bundy.

[spanone]

38. +1000

[Art_from_Ark]

2. I don't get it

I can already buy American beef and pork in Japan. Japanese poultry is superior to American poultry, and some cuts of Japanese chicken, like breast fillets, are cheaper at the local supermarkets here in Japan than they are in the US. And rice is the only food that Japan produces in sufficient quantities to meet its domestic needs.

[RobertEarl]

3. Hey Art. How's things?

From what i remember, the duties on American goods in Japan drives the prices so high that Japan's producers can sell for less. Like American cars for instance. Probably translates to food stuff, too, idk.

Japan does have a rather large trade imbalance with the US, meaning we import far more from Japan than Japan imports from us.

[Art_from_Ark]

4. Japanese chicken in Japan is often cheaper than American chicken in the US

US (and Australian) beef in Japan is generally cheaper than Japanese beef.
US (and Canadian) pork in Japan is generally cheaper than Japanese pork.

[RobertEarl]

6. They eat that too much?

Or we don't? We don't and they do so there is too much here and not enough there?

I see sushi places opening up here with Japanese names, and all kinds of Japanese cars and tech stuff.

But of course we made a killing selling Japan nuke power. And of course we keep Japan protected from any enemy. All's fair in love, war and all that, eh?

Why don't the Japanese love America and Obama? <grin>

[Art_from_Ark]

8. You can find all sorts of American restaurants in Japan

McDonald's is ubiquitous, and there's also Burger King, Subway, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Denny's, Pizza Hut, Shakey's, and probably a few I've missed. Seiyu has hooked up with Wal-Mart so I can buy Best Choice and other American food brands there if I want to.

[KittyWampus]

13. beef cows take up a lot of real estate which Japan doesn't have

so it's obvious they are happy to import US beef. I wonder If any cattle in the US are Japanese owned?

Not arguing or anything. Just saying...

[davidpdx]

31. They sell American beef here in Korea and it is cheaper than Korean and Australian beef

I believe Canadian beef is still not allowed. Generally I buy beef at Costco and it's always Australian ground beef for tacos. If I buy American beef it is for steaks or something else.

Hey can you get Tillamook Cheese over there in Japan. I buy it here in Korea. That stuff is the best.

[Art_from_Ark]

7. The deal with American cars is that they, like all imports,

must pass a rigorous inspection before they can be sold in Japan. Domestic cars produced in Japan must also pass the inspection. However, there is little market for American cars here, although if you really want an American car you can buy one. Personally, I wouldn't want a big American car here because of the high taxes (which are applied to all big cars regardless of make), high cost of gasoline, high cost of inspections, difficulty in manouevering narrow Japanese roads, difficulty in parking, and so on.

[davidpdx]

33. I see American cars in Korea

Mostly Chevy since GM bought out Daewoo many years ago. They finally switch from GM Daewoo to Chevy last year. Koreans seem to like BIG cars. I don't know why because parking is a pain in the ass and the spots are small.

My friend at work has a nice little car that is kind of a dark lime green color. I tease her and call it "booger mobile".

The problem with some of the really small cars is the engines can't speed up on the highway.

[Art_from_Ark]

34. What's the engine size of the small cars

and what's the speed limit on Korean highways?

I've got a 650cc engine in my Japanese-made car and it can easily maintain the speed limit (100kph) on the local Japanese expressways. Admittedly, it is a manual, which helps it to accelerate better.

[davidpdx]

36. I think less than 1000cc's

Those kind of cars are annoying! When you look behind you and see some asshole driving fast behind you with a bigger car, think of me.

[Art_from_Ark]

40. I tend to avoid the Japanese expressways

They're all toll roads, with high tolls even when my small-car discount is included.
But the speed limit on regular undivided roads here is only 25-30mph (36mph on divided roads), so driving a big car around here is like trying to cut butter with a chainsaw-- you've got a lot of power, but no way to really use it.

[Art_from_Ark]

41. By the way, on an unrelated topic

I was having a discussion yesterday with some Japanese about the buying power of the won and average salaries in South Korea. What can I buy with, say, a 500 won coin in Korea? And what is the average starting salary for a college graduate in a regular office job?

[davidpdx]

42. For a 500 won coin not much, maybe a roll of mints

It might be better to use a 1,000 won bill as a barometer. When I first got here 10 years ago you used to be able to find a bottle of Coke (standard size) at 900 or 1,000 won. That's gone up to between 1,400 and 1,800 (the latter being the 7-11's and GS mini-mart type places).

The only thing I can think that generally is still 1,000 won is a Twix candy bar.

On the starting salary for an office worker, my wife said it really varies depending on the company it could be as low as $1,800 to $3,000 a month with benefits. She said they work like 60+ hours a week though.

I think the rent system is similar to Japan where you have to put down a crap load of money for a deposit. For instance, on the two bedroom apartment we were in was $20,000 deposit and then a monthly fee. That is the lower of the two. The higher one would have been like $80,000 to 90,000 with no monthly rent.

[Jesus Malverde]

15. what I see are not cheap electronics.

a small TV in the united states is $150 dollars.

Here it's $300 dollars, I think the trade issue goes beyond meat and rice.

[Art_from_Ark]

35. What kind of small TV are you thinking of?

In the Akihabara district of Tokyo, you can easily find a small TV for less than $300.

[Jesus Malverde]

37. I wanted a second screen for my laptop.

I was hoping for something in the 22" to 30" range.

I've only half looked at "bic camera" and "best denki" witch are the two big electronics chains down here. I also looked at costco. No luck for me in fukuoka. Not sure I'll make it up to tokyo this trip.

[Art_from_Ark]

39. Maybe you could try K's Denki

They have some pretty low prices for computer stuff, and you can get a discount if you get their "Anshin Passport" card

[Spider Jerusalem]

5. Can't blame Japan for not wanting to let in hormone-laden US-raised meat

this is why American meat was barred from import to Europe for years and now only certified growth-hormone-free meat is allowed to be imported.

[Exposethefrauds]

9. I agree I would not let US meat or most other food products into Japan or anyother country

The majority of American food available in supermarkets is flavorless, chemical laden, crap and is killing those who eat it.

America could lead the world in producing high quality food but instead America produces crap food in bulk.

[Blue_Tires]

12. +1000

It's absolutely shocking to see what major companies get away with selling us here while producing high-quality stuff for foreign markets...

[Exposethefrauds]

30. What bothers me even more is how our Government goes out of it's way to ensure

the food sold is not even properly labeled.

One could say what are they hiding? If GMO Chow aka Frankenfood is A-OK why are the manufactures so against proper labeling?

[Enthusiast]

10. Just imagine!

A government protecting their domestic producers. Why would they do that?

[pampango]

11. Sounds like they are protecting their consumers, not their domestic producers, as it should be.

US (and Australian) beef in Japan is generally cheaper than Japanese beef.
US (and Canadian) pork in Japan is generally cheaper than Japanese pork.

American cars..., like all imports, must pass a rigorous inspection before they can be sold in Japan. Domestic cars produced in Japan must also pass the inspection. However, there is little market for American cars here, although if you really want an American car you can buy one. Personally, I wouldn't want a big American car here because of the high taxes (which are applied to all big cars regardless of make) ...

A liberal society protects its citizens (consumers) through high standards on safety, quality, etc. A conservative society protects the corporations (domestic producers) that make the goods. If high standards also eliminate some foreign competition, so be it. If domestic producers require lower standards in order to 'compete', that does not bode well for the health and safety of a society's consumers.

[Jesus Malverde]

16. ding ding ding...

They don't have an unemployment crisis on the scale we have either.

[Enthusiast]

27. They don't seem to

treat their countrymen as vermin either. Not that they are perfect, of course. They have their own particular PTB.

[FarCenter]

29. On the other hand, their labor force participation rate for women is about 48% instead of 59%

[Rex]

14. Can't win them all.

At least he didn't get stuck inside a room in China.

I am dumb and cannot get out of this room, someone send for my mommy!

[Jesus Malverde]

17. The Chinese totally set that baboon up

One of the funniest moments of his presidency.

[a kennedy]

18. Yup, that has got to be one of my all time favorites......ha ha.

and thanks for posting.

and I liked this one as well..... http://www.frequency.com/video/bush-bounces-flat-basketball/76358996/-/5-379

Kinda miss him..... NOT

[Capt. Obvious]

19. I'm sure someone will be along shortly to correct this mistaken headline

[Jesus Malverde]

20. First post took me to task...

Even it was the NYT.

[Capt. Obvious]

21. The Grey Lady is a known ODS sufferer

[Union Scribe]

22. Yep, as the 1st reply so brilliantly noted

the NYT is infamous for its vocal support for...uh...Cliven Bundy.

[Jesus Malverde]

23. shoot the messenger first then ask whose telegram they are delivering..

[Union Scribe]

24. Exactly better safe than sorry

Like the various zombie viruses, the dreaded ODS may be carried into the protected zone by any source, no matter how inconspicuous. I know because I have consulted 10 trusted DUers...

[Jesus Malverde]

25. LOL Thread win..

Shhhh people might be on to our insider smugness.....


Circle jerk.

[Capt. Obvious]

26. heh heh heh

[Enthusiast]

28. It's always

the same ones. Wrong on every single issue.

[davidpdx]

32. He was just here in Korea yesterday and today

I wish we could have offered him a little better weather.