US and Japan have big differences to resolve to make TPP a reality

IT wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Washington last week, the first by a Japanese PM in nine years, as "historic" and not only because it's taking place in a year that marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II or because Mr Abe became the first Japanese leader to address a joint meeting of the US Congress.

Against the backdrop of a rising China and a changing balance of power in Asia and with US President Barack Obama continuing to pursue his "pivot" towards the region, the visit provided an opportunity for Japa…