Category Archives: Trade Talks

TOKYO, Jan. 28 — A few days after 11 Pacific Rim countries paved the way for signing a new Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) without the United States, President Donald Trump said he might consider rejoining the trade pact, if he could get a “better deal” for his country. “If we did a substantially better deal, I would be open to TPP,” Trump told CNBC at the sidelines of World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. He said he would be willing to renegotiate with TPP countries, “individually, or perhaps as a group, if it is in the interests of all”. In his delivery to the world business and political leaders … Continue reading →

It was only a year ago that U.S. President Donald Trump moved to “permanently withdraw” the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. An about-face came, however, when Trump said all of a sudden that he would consider rejoining the free trade deal. His real intentions are unclear, but he would never withdraw his “America First” policies. He shouldn’t get a warm welcome and there is no way TPP members can renegotiate the trade pact. In his address to the annual gathering of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump told government and business leaders he would be willing to negotiate with countries that are part of the TPP … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Jan. 23 — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has renewed his pledges for agricultural reform and early entry into force of recently-signed trade deals at an opening of a new session of parliament. But he didn’t specifically mention his intention to overhaul the nation’s largest farmers’ group as he used to. In a Jan. 22 policy speech at the first regular parliamentary session of the year, Abe said: “I will push to reform the entire sectors of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.” He also said he will seek early entry into force of the Comprehensive Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Japan-EU free trade agreement. “Japan, as a standard bearer … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Jan. 24 — One year after President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the remaining 11 members have ironed out differences and agreed to sign a revised pact on March 8 in Chile. Senior TPP-11 officials settled the remaining differences in the new TPP — the Comprehensive Progressive TPP (CPTPP) — at two-day talks in Tokyo that ended on Jan. 23. “We want to get the agreement to take effect as soon as possible,” Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters after the meeting. “I’m convinced Canada will sign up.” The CPTPP will come into force after ratification by six of the 11 … Continue reading →

TOKYO, Jan. 17 — The Japanese government has expanded estimates of the impact on agricultural products from recently-sealed free trade agreements with the EU and with 10 Pacific Rim countries, from 176 billion yen to 179 billion yen. The estimates were corrected due to an error in the calculations of dairy products, the agriculture ministry said on Jan. 16, about a month after announcing the estimates. The agriculture ministry explained it had traced the error, while explaining the estimates at a series of meeting with local government officials. The Japan-EU trade deal is now likely to impact by between 39.7 billion and 68.6 billion yen, while the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) … Continue reading →