The Development of Soviet-Japanese Trade Relations (1959–1965)

The final qualifying work is devoted to the development of Soviet-Japanese trade relations in 1959-1965. The Soviet Union and Japan established trade relations during the Cold War and the unresolved "territorial issue". Economic interests prompted them to do this. The strengthening of mutually beneficial economic cooperation between countries was accompanied by an increase in trade turnover. Thus, the history of the development of economic relations with a state from a hostile political camp under the conditions of economic blockade and other forms of containment characteristic of the Cold War, combined with the experience of how trade copes, where politics reaches an impasse, and how new economic ties are developed in unfavorable conditions shaped the relevance of the work. To conduct the study, the goal was set: to characterize in dynamics and consider the forms of interaction between Soviet-Japanese trade relations in 1959 - 1965. The source base of the study was based on archival documents of the Russian State Academy of Economics and Russian State Historical Research Institute, sources of periodicals, published statistical reviews of foreign trade of the USSR and verbatim reports of the CPSU Central Committee. In accordance with the adopted theoretical and methodological framework, the consideration of Soviet foreign trade was carried out not only as a consequence of decisions made on the basis of political and ideological considerations and completely subordinated to the will of the party leadership, but as a complex process of searching for mutually beneficial solutions within a strictly defined framework. The work assessed how positive changes in trade and economic relations contributed to the weakening of Soviet ideological rhetoric in favor of practical interaction. The processing of indicators of export-import operations was carried out using statistical analysis methods, which made it possible to characterize the state and scale of Soviet-Japanese trade turnover. Chapter I describes the process of transformation of the foreign policy of the USSR, which led to changes in foreign trade strategies. The proclamation of a seven-year plan for the development of the national economy prompted a number of economic initiatives. One of them is the placement of production facilities at the site of resource extraction, in order to prepare products for transportation for sale. There was a need for trading partners capable of investing in the Soviet economy. Restoration of trade relations in the mid-1950s. The USSR and Japan are considered as an event containing prospects for both trade participants. Chapter II describes the process of formation of trade turnover between the USSR and Japan and its structure. The influence on the formation of trade turnover of all-Union associations and the internal needs of the economies of the USSR and Japan. The forms of Soviet-Japanese interaction are analyzed. Participation in international exhibitions helped the Soviet Union make additional sales and identify the reasons for the low demand for certain Soviet equipment. Japan, at exhibitions, introduced the Soviet side to its technical achievements and concluded lucrative contracts. The process of delegation visits is presented as an important component of trade relations. During the visits, major issues were resolved and further paths for the development of Soviet-Japanese trade were determined. In conclusion, it is established that the development of Soviet-Japanese trade relations was accompanied by an increase in trade turnover and the strengthening of foreign trade relations through various forms of interaction. A number of important Soviet departments and Japanese departments were involved in the affairs of Soviet-Japanese trade. Trade between the Soviet Union and Japan was able to give impetus to the Soviet economy and accelerate the implementation of the tasks of the seven-year plan. And Japan’s trade with the Soviet Union gave Japanese firms access to a new market in which they sold their products, and Japan itself received significant amounts of energy resources that it needed so much.