Japan has rejected American proposals to re-start the stalled Doha Round of global trade talks, describing them as “not acceptable.” Agriculture Minister Mineichi Iwanaga says Japan and other countries will now offer an alternative plan later this week. [Radio Australia]
I’m not surprised.
Trade Diversion 
It would be nice to see Japan get even half as much criticism for their resolutely anti-development policies as the US and EU get. And yes, I know that applies to me too. The main obstacle, I suppose, is ignorance of Japanese politics, but maybe there’s also a reluctance to criticise a ‘different culture’ or something. I wonder if Make Poverty History or similar groups have made any impact in Japan …