Category Archives: Farm Policy

Japanese minister welcomes more nations interested in TPP-11

TOKYO, June 23 — Japan welcomes more countries have expressed an interest in joining the revised Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), also known as the TPP-11, Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has said. At a June 22 press conference, Motegi said that Colombia has informed New Zealand, the depository of the trade pact, of its intention to join the TPP-11 once it comes into force. “I welcome more countries are interested in joining the TPP-11,” Motegi told reporters. TPP-11’s chief negotiators will gather in the mid-July in Hakone, a lake resort near Tokyo. Japan will chair the meeting and it is expected to discuss the procedure on how to add more members to … Continue reading

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Japanese farmers and consumers rally on TPP11 related bills

TOKYO, June 15 — Japan’s farmers and consumers have gathered in Tokyo’s Chiyoda on June 14, on the day that marked the passage of the revised Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), known as the TPP-11, in the upper house. On the same day, lawmakers started deliberations over the TPP-11 related bills, including measures to compensate farmers. The opposition parties argue potential adverse affects of the TPP-11 on farmers if the agreement is implemented. Civil society organizations such as, Japan Family farmers Movement (NOUMINREN) and Palsystem Consumers’ Co-operative Union joined the protest. Participants were holding signs that read: “Block the TPP-11 related bills.” “We oppose the TPP Plus agenda!” The Abe Administration desperately … Continue reading

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Japan’s upper house passes TPP11, pushing related trade bills

TOKYO, June 14 — Japan’s upper house has approved the revised Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), also known as the TPP-11, despite opposition efforts to threaten the smooth ratification process. In order to complete the ratification process, the governing coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Komeito Party still needs to pass the TPP-11 related bills, including measures to compensate farmers. But the opposition parties are demanding good deliberations over the related bills, arguing potential adverse affects of the TPP-11 on farmers if the agreement is implemented. The Abe Administration desperately wants to pass the TPP-11 and related bills in the current parliamentary session that ends on June 20, a … Continue reading

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Japan to set up online farmers’ community to expand exports

TOKYO, May 31 — Japan will set up a farming community site where food producers and makers and trading companies can build on their successes by helping each other to access benefits from potential models. The governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) committee that promotes agricultural exports on May 30 complied a recommendation list to present the administration led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Setting up the farming community site is in the recommendation list. The list also includes strengthening marketing of the Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Center (JFOODO), which has export strategy for seven agriculture sectors: wagyu beef, rice flour, green tea, sake, wine, craft beer and fishery products. … Continue reading

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Japan to relax age-based testing on cattle after BSE scare

TOKYO, June 6 — Nine years after the last outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease, Japan is likely to relax testing requirements for the disease, informed sources said. The agriculture ministry will advise an advisory council on June 8 to consider to relax the mandatory testing requirements for cattle, from the current 48-months of age and older, to 96-months and older. If the council approves, the change will likely be implemented in fiscal 2019. That would reduce the number of cattle bound to undergo the testing to about one third of the current levels, according to the agriculture ministry. The ministry conducted 66,403 testing on … Continue reading

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