Category Archives: Trade Talks

【Analysis】 Japan seeks “flexibility” from US in TPP talks (Dec. 14, 2013)

  Ministers of the 12 countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks closed their meeting in Singapore earlier this week, failing to reach agreement before the year end as expected. Differences remain among member countries, as the United States confronted other members in many areas including intellectual properties and tariffs on farm products. In an effort to find a way out of the difficulties, the ministers said in their joint statement that they will continue to work “with flexibility,” and the Japanese government focuses on this phrase as a foothold to make the U.S. change its hardline policy. Many members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s committee on the … Continue reading

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【News】 TPP ministers stress fruits of negotiations, eager to maintain momentum for future agreement (Dec. 12, 2013)

  Satomi Tamai – Singapore Ministers from the 12 countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, who wrapped up a four-day meeting in Singapore on It’s   Tuesday, December 10, seemed to lack a sense of urgency in meeting their end-of-year goal for an accord, despite expectations which grew prior to the meeting. But they said in a joint statement that they have made “substantial progress” towards completing the agreement and will continue “intensive work” toward sealing the pact, adding that they will meet again next month. In a press conference held after the meeting, United States Trade Representative Michael Froman called the meeting “tremendously successful and productive,” saying … Continue reading

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【News】 Japanese farmers concerned over US’ highhanded attitude in TPP negotiations (Dec. 12, 2013)

  After failing to reach agreement by the year end, ministers from the 12 member countries engaged in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks decided to meet again in January. Farmers interviewed by The Japan Agricultural News unanimously voiced concern over future TPP negotiations and the Japanese government’s stance amid growing pressure from the United States to open markets. “The U.S. is too strong-armed,” said Koichi Kakizaki, 61, who grows rice on a 20-hectare land in Kaneyama, Yamagata Prefecture. “It seems like the U.S. is telling Japan and other countries to become its followers.” “We farmers think that joining the TPP talks in itself was wrong,” Kakizaki said, urging the government … Continue reading

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【News】 Japan takes the offensive in TPP talks, attacking US export subsidies (Dec. 10, 2013)

  Hirobumi Senbongi – Singapore The Japanese government asked other members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks to revise their export-related protectionist measures, including United States’ export subsidies, it was learned Monday, December 9. In the ministerial meeting of the TPP member countries held in Singapore, Japanese negotiators claimed that measures to support exports can distort trade liberalization, saying that it is unfair to focus only on tariff cuts by importing countries, and many members backed Japan on the issue, according to government sources close to the negotiations. By taking an offensive negotiating stance in the area of trade in goods, Japan aims at maintaining its pledge to protect key … Continue reading

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【Editorial】 Government must keep its pledge and protect sensitive agricultural products (Dec. 4, 2013)

  Now is the time for us to demand the government to keep the resolutions made in the Diet and its pledge to protect the key agricultural products. As the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks enter a crucial stage, the Japanese government is trying to keep pace with the United States which is eager to strike a political deal by the end of this year. A citizens’ meeting was held in Tokyo on Tuesday, December 3, to urge the government to maintain its own stance in the TPP talks. The government should not break the promise it made with the Japanese people to protect the five key agricultural products and food … Continue reading

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