This project explores the strengthening of US-Japan cooperation in Eurasia, focusing on three key areas: trade and investment, energy security, and environmental protection. The project takes into account the growing geopolitical tensions in the post-COVID-19 world, especially China’s increasing assertiveness through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the US-Indo Pacific Strategy. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply chains, exacerbated protectionist tendencies, and shifted priorities in international trade. The election of Joe Biden in the US brought renewed focus on multilateralism, environmental protection, and free trade, offering a window of opportunity for the US and Japan to assert their influence in shaping global governance frameworks, particularly in Eurasia. President Trump supported the conceptualization of the US-Indo Pacific strategy during his first term. However, his approach during his second term remains unclear.  The Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy, led by Japan, serves as a key vehicle for promoting a rules-based international order in the region. FOIP emphasizes the rule of law, free navigation, and open markets, countering China’s BRI, which has been criticized for creating economic dependencies in the region. US-Japan collaboration is critical in reinforcing the liberal international economic order, which is facing challenges due to rising nationalism, authoritarianism, and the declining efficacy of multilateral institutions. This project assesses how the US and Japan can leverage their strategic positions to improve trade, foster sustainable energy cooperation, and lead global environmental initiatives. Japan, a leader in renewable energy technologies, along with the US, which has shifted focus under the Biden administration toward clean energy and environmental restoration, offers a counterbalance to China’s state-driven projects that often neglect sustainability.

Paolo Davide Farah is a Full Professor of Public Administration and Public Policy (with tenure) at West Virginia University, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, John D. Rockefeller IV School of Policy and Politics, having joined the faculty in 2014.  

He is Coordinator of the Eberly College Interdisciplinary Research Collaborative on Global Challenges and Local Responses Initiatives and Director of the Energy Justice and Just Transition Lab at Center for Resilient Communities (CRC).  He is also Founder, President and Director of gLAWcal – Global Law Initiatives for Sustainable Development.

Professor Farah’s teaching and research focus on law, public policy and public administration, democratic context of public administration, legal and political foundations, international law, climate change, international trade, business and human rights, social justice, sustainable development, energy and environmental law and policy. He is an expert in the interaction among trade, economic globalization and non-trade concerns, such as sustainable development, energy, environment and human rights.  He has published more than 60 peer-reviewed and US law review articles or book chapters, 9 books and 6 journal special issues published or forthcoming and 20 additional peer-reviewed publications in Italian, French, Spanish and Chinese including a book published by the Law Press China.

Professor Farah graduated with a Maitrise in International and European Law from Paris Ouest La Defense Nanterre University (France), LLM in European Legal Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium) and a Dual PhD in international law from Aix-Marseille University (France) and University of Milan (Italy).

Light lunch and refreshments to be served.

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