Japan’s Abe pledges to advance farm reforms after election

TOKYO, Nov. 18 — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in his first policy speech to the Japanese Parliament following his recent landslide election victory, has pledged to keep advancing farm reforms. “I’m convinced that Japanese citizens desire to see implementation of the policy pledges in a stable political manner,” Abe said in an address on Nov. 17. “We will reform the entire agriculture sector so that younger generations can have hope and opt for farming careers,” he added. Abe’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito swept to victory in an October national election, with a two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament. He also said that … Continue reading

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Japan, EU stepping up efforts to finalize trade deal by year end

TOKYO, Nov. 16 — Japan and the EU have confirmed that ministerial-level contacts could be set up to wrap up a trade deal before the year’s end, seeking to resolve a controversial proposed investment protection provision. Both have considered separating the so-called investor state dispute settlement (ISDS) provision from the agreement, informed sources said. Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono talked with EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström over the phone on Nov. 15. Malmström also talked separately with Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko on the same day. Senior officials from the two will meet again this month, focusing on the contentious issues including the ISDS provision. The ISDS provision allows foreign investors … Continue reading

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Global cooperative alliance elects JA-ZENCHU Nakaya to board

KUALA LAMPUR, Malaysia, Nov. 18 —The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) has elected JA-ZENCHU Chairman Toru Nakaya as a new board member. The apex the global cooperatives body held its general assembly in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia on Nov. 17. ICA received 24 candidates for the 15 board seats. After being elected, Nakaya said: “The Japanese cooperative movement, including JA Group, has been highly regarded in the global cooperative community, and it is vital to preserve the cooperative movement.” “My mission is to upgrade the model and increase its presence,” he stressed. Nakaya got 611 out of total 697 votes, the second highest number of votes in the same election. Board members … Continue reading

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Japan’s convenience store chains raise prices of rice balls

TOKYO, Nov. 10 — Japanese convenience store chains have raised prices of onigiri, or Japanese rice balls stuffed with a variety of delicious fillings, to pass on rice price increases to consumers. Store chains had been being hesitant to pass price increases onto consumers. But some of them started raising onigiri prices due to an increase in commercial rice prices for 2017, and the trend will grow throughout the convenience store industry, observers say. In October, Lawson Inc. raised prices for some of its onigiri lineups at its 127,000 outlets in Japan. The price of a rice ball filled with tuna and mayonnaise rose from 110 yen to 116 yen. … Continue reading

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Chance to renegotiate deal without US in TPP: Japan minister

TOKYO, Nov. 15 — Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has suggested that “an agreement in principle” adopted by the remaining Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) members in Vietnam earlier this month will allow Tokyo to renegotiate agricultural market access if it wishes. “You can rest assured what we should have in the agreement,” Motegi told reporters at a Nov. 14 press conference. On Nov. 11, the 11 TPP countries inserted a clause in the agreement, stipulating that they will renegotiate the deal if any country requests it and if there is no prospect the U.S. will return to the TPP. Yet, many observers and farm lobbyists privately said that the parameter of … Continue reading

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