Category Archives: Trade Talks

TOKYO, Aug. 31 ― Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has pressed the government’s top official to stick to the national interests, as Tokyo is set to hold its second ministerial meeting with the U.S. under a new framework to discuss “free, fair and reciprocal (FFR)” trade. The LDP’s internal trade task force, which deals with the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), held a meeting on Aug. 30. During the meeting, the LDP lawmakers reminded Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi that the upcoming ministerial talks with the U.S. should not become the preliminary talks on launching an official free trade negotiation between the two. “We heard … Continue reading →

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 ― Japan and the U.S. completed their first ministerial meeting under a new framework on bilateral trade issues, with agreeing to continue talks, though officials offered few details. The first round of the talks came after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the U.S. President Donald Trump agreed in April to set up the new framework to discuss “free, fair and reciprocal (FFR)” trade. “We had a frank exchange of views and deepened mutual understanding,” Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters after the two-day meeting that ended on Aug. 10. According to sources, Motegi had a one-on-one meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Robert Lighthizer, for more … Continue reading →

Earlier this month, Japan and the United States held their first meeting under what they call “free, fair and reciprocal” trade talks, and the U.S. called for launching negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). Japan should never accept a Japan-U.S. FTA, as it will deal a heavy blow to Japan’s agriculture. The government and the ruling coalition should make clear their stance of adamantly refusing such a deal when they engage in future negotiations. Economy revitalization minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who is also in charge of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) multilateral accord, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will lead the dialogue, dubbed the FFR talks. The two governments … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Aug. 1 ― Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) trade chairman has said the upcoming ministerial-level trade talks with the U.S. should not lead to a free trade negotiation between the two. “It is important that this dialogue should not become preliminary talks on launching official free trade negotiations between Japan and the U.S.,” Hiroshi Moriyama, chairman of the LDP’s Diet Affairs Committee, told the Japan Agriculture News in an interview. Moriyama is also the chairman of the party’s internal trade task force, which deals with the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). “With the TPP, Japan granted significant concessions for agricultural products as much … Continue reading →

TOKYO, July 20 ― Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has called for not entering trade negotiations with the U.S., as Tokyo is set to hold its first bilateral trade talks with Washington on Aug. 9. The LDP’s internal trade task force, which deals with the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), submitted a resolution to Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on July 19. The party emphasized in the resolution that it would not accept for the government to offer Washington the same level of market access that Tokyo promises in the TPP deal. In April, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to … Continue reading →