Japan’s Rising Influence in U.S. Policy and Geoeconomics
with Alan Turley | Hosted by Jake E. Jennings
December 23, 2025
Coffee, Trade, and Tech, Episode #9
In episode nine of our Tholos Talks series that unpacks the defining economic challenges of the 21st century — Coffee, Trade, and Tech — Jake sits down with Alan Turley, a retired U.S. Commerce foreign service officer with over 30 years of experience working to establish and expand U.S. businesses in Asia, with a particular focus on greater China and, most recently, Japan.
In this episode, Jake and Alan dive deep into the critical U.S.-Japan relationship—both the political and economic dimensions—the role of technology in that partnership, the Nippon Steel acquisition of U.S. Steel, and where Alan sees this relationship heading as we look toward 2025 and beyond.
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About Our Guest
Alan Turley is an independent business advisor with more than 40 years of experience in Japan, China and ASEAN. He has lived and worked in the region as a diplomat, a business executive and a student and speaks both Japanese and Chinese.
From 2021 - 2025 Alan was the Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, where he led a team of 36 U.S. Commercial Service professionals in Tokyo and Osaka dedicated to promoting closer trade and economic ties between the United States and Japan. The CS Japan team promotes U.S. exports to Japan, encourages Japanese direct investment into the United States, works to improve the trade and investment climate in Japan and advises the leadership in the Department of Commerce on trade-policy issues regarding the bilateral commercial relationship. Prior to returning to Tokyo, Alan was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for China and Mongolia in Washington D.C., where he was responsible for International Trade Administration (ITA) programs in those markets. He organized the last meeting of the U.S. - China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade in 2016, led trade missions to both China and Mongolia and participated in the talks leading to the “Phase One” Trade Agreement between the U.S. and China in January 2020. From 2002 to 2016, Alan was Vice President for International Affairs in Asia Pacific for FedEx Express. Twice a winner of FedEx’s coveted “Five Star Award”, Alan helped manage FedEx’s rapid growth and expansion in Asia, including the building of China’s first international air express hub, the founding of FedEx’s wholly-owned operations in China, and the approval of FedEx’s purchase of TNT Express.
Alan’s career in the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service started in 1986 in Japan, where he headed the Major Projects and Transportation Equipment Unit. Alan then served as the Director of the Commercial Service's International Marketing Center at the U.S. Embassy in London for two years before moving back to Asia to become Deputy Senior Commercial Officer at the American Institute in Taiwan. From 1996 to 2000, Alan was the Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, where he participated in the talks that led to China’s accession to the WTO. After Beijing, Alan returned to Japan to serve in the same capacity at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.
Alan Turley was educated in public schools in Cheshire Connecticut and was graduated from the University of Virginia with High Honors in 1983. After receiving his B.A., Mr. Turley spent two years studying Chinese in Taiwan at National Taiwan Normal University's Mandarin Training Center. Alan speaks and reads Chinese professionally and Japanese fluently.
About Our Host
Deborah Lehr is the CEO of Basilinna, a strategic advisory firm, and founder and Chair of the Antiquities Coalition. She has spoken globally on issues related to cultural heritage. Previously...read the full bio here.
About Tholos Talks
Tholos Talks is a series following the spirit of the tholos circle, where Ancient Greek intellectuals gathered to debate the issues of the day. Through deep insight and thought-provoking dialogue, we offer the tools to decode complexity and illuminate the path forward.
Tholos Talks is hosted by the Basilinna team and is produced by the Basilinna Institute.
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