Category Archives: Trade Talks

【Editorial】 TPP talks enters a new phase; the absurdity of the framework should not be overlooked (May 15, 2013)

  The Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, where negotiations for tariff elimination and revision of rules led by the United States are conducted in parallel, will enter a new phase. The TPP participants will discuss Japan’s entry into the TPP in the round of talks which was expected to start on Wednesday, May 15, in Peru. The TPP is an absurd scheme which differs completely from other trade negotiations. We must closely watch the discussions by the 11 participating countries and face the fact that our food and our lives are actually being threatened. To begin with, we should question the “strong diplomacy” which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has promised to … Continue reading

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【Series】 TPP – Underlying motive of the U.S.: report on anti-TPP lawmakers’ visit to the U.S. Part 3 (May 15, 2013)

Part 3; Draft texts for the agreement are kept under the covers Takanori Okabe Some congressmen and their assistants have access to the draft of the text being negotiated in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks. The delegation of Japanese anti-TPP lawmakers was shocked on Tuesday, April 23, the second day of its visit to the United States, when the group heard this from an assistant to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, a long-serving Republican. Delegation members were shocked to know that the negotiating texts are actually made available to some U.S. policymakers, although the TPP participants were said to have signed a confidentiality agreement at the outset of the negotiations which … Continue reading

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【Series】 TPP – Underlying motive of the U.S. : report on anti-TPP lawmakers’ visit to the U.S. Part 2 (May 14, 2013)

  Part 2; U.S. auto industry is still not happy Takanori Okabe In the bilateral preparatory negotiations between Japan and the United States concerning Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, the two nations struck a deal, with Japan making significant concessions in the automotive sector, including allowing U.S. car tariffs to be kept to the maximum extent. The U.S. auto industry, as well as Congress backed by the industry, however, is not happy with the agreement. When the delegation of Japanese anti-TPP lawmakers visiting the U.S. asked whether the U.S. auto industry will support Japan’s entry into the TPP talks under the conditions agreed in the preliminary negotiations, … Continue reading

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【News】 Head of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives expresses strong opposition against Japan’s entry into TPP (May 11, 2013)

  Akira Banzai, head of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA Zenchu), stressed Friday, May 10, that the group is “dead set against” Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade negotiations. “The TPP could hinder national sovereignty, and we have no intention whatsoever to negotiate on conditions,” Banzai said, speaking at the Japan National Press Club. As issues of concern related to the TPP, Banzai listed such possibilities as drastic drop in agricultural production, devastation of agricultural villages and regional cultures, disintegration of functions to protect the national land and its environment and diminution of related industries. He also cited fears for sectors other than agriculture, such as food … Continue reading

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【Series】 TPP – Underlying motive of the U.S. : report on anti-TPP lawmakers’ visit to the U.S. Part 1 (May 11, 2013)

Part 1; Scrapping tariffs across the board Takanori Okabe In late April, a delegation of National Conference to Consider the TPP, a group of experts and lawmakers who are against Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, visited the United States to exchange opinions with officials of the U.S. government, Congress and industries concerning the TPP talks. Takanori Okabe of The Japan Agricultural News, who accompanied the delegation, reports on the U.S.’ real intention which surfaced during the visit, including their opposition to allowing exceptions in scrapping tariffs, and on the differences between the recognitions of Japan and the U.S. In the TPP negotiations, there is a basic principle … Continue reading

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