Japan, Regulatory Compliance, and the Wisdom of Extraterritorial Social Controls

United States trade policy allows for a host of extraterritorial initiatives designed to force regulatory reform and corporate compliance in Japan. In this Article, it is argued that such reform and compliance is better achieved by extraterritorial support of the informal, consensual nature of Japanese administrative regulation. Extraterritorial initiatives should promote rather than undermine corporate and industry self-regulation. This position is supported by evidence that the alliances and relations underwriting the socio-cultural environment in Japan can ensure effective corporate self-regulation and compliance if supported.