Businessman William Hagerty would soon be named as the next U.S. Ambassador to Japan, an adviser to Trump’s Transition Team has said on condition of anonymity. Hagerty who is the director of Presidential Appointments in Trump’s transition team, is from Tennessee and founded the firm, Hagerty Peterson, Reuters reports. Japan’s Nikkei news service also reported that Trump would soon announce the choice of Hagerty. Hagerty had worked for many years in Japan with the Boston Consulting Group, a management consultancy firm and later served in the White House during the administration of George W. Bush. He will replace Caroline Kennedy, who had been the U.S. Ambassador to Japan since 2013.
According to Reuters, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, declined to comment as the choice had not been announced yet. Others who commented however said that the choice suggests Trump is prioritising economics in bilateral ties. This comes as a potential relief for ofconcerned by his protectionist stance on trade during the presidential campaign.
Japanese companies play a key role in the U.S. economy, employing more than 800,000 American workers. They contributed $78 billion to U.S. exports in 2014, according to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. The news was likely reassure officials at the Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industry (METI) as well as the Ministry of Finance (MOF), he added. “The boys at the U.S. Defense Department and the Defense Agency may be disappointed because of his lack of experience in the geopolitical aspects of the U.S.-Japan relationship, but METI, MOF and everyone else here in Tokyo should be breathing a sign of relief,” he added.
Japan’s Defense Ministry was formerly called the Defense Agency.
Reuters