The alliance between Japan and the United States will remain strong regardless of the imminent change in U.S. administrations, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer said Thursday in Tokyo.
While some have speculated that President-elect Barack Obama may maintain the Democrats' tradition of protecting U.S. domestic industry, Schieffer assured that the U.S. will continue to value and nurture all aspects of bilateral ties with Japan.
"Each administration will decide what its trade policy is going to be," Schieffer said, adding Tokyo will be able to maintain close ties with Washington because the two "share so much common ground."