Category Archives: Trade Talks

【News】 The Upper House gives nod to TPP – but asks for withdrawal if exclusions of key products from tariff eliminations cannot be obtained (April 19, 2013)

  The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee of the Upper House adopted a resolution by a majority Thursday, April 18, approving the Japanese government’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks. The resolution calls on the government to negotiate for exceptions – especially in the key areas of rice, wheat, beef, pork, dairy products and sugar – from tariff eliminations in the TPP discussions. It also asks the government to walk away from the negotiating table if it fails to persuade other TPP members to allow existing tariffs on the key products. The Lower House Committee for the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries also decided the same day to adopt a … Continue reading

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【News】 Japan-U.S. TPP deal – political calculations seen behind how each of the countries announced the joint statement on the agreement (April 16, 2013)

  Japan emphasizes that the agreement recognized the agricultural products are especially sensitive, while the U.S. underscores the point that all goods will be subject to negotiation Some differences are found in Japan and the United States’ outline of the agreement statement on preparatory negotiations over Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks announced Friday, April 12, it was learned.  The different points include: 1.The Japanese version outline of the agreement said that the two countries confirmed certain farm products were “sensitive” for Japan, while the U.S. version did not mention the point. 2. The U.S. outline noted that Japan agreed to negotiate on all items, which is not mentioned … Continue reading

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【News】 Japan reaches agreement with U.S. on preparatory talks for joining TPP – The government loses a trump card and the difficulty to win exceptions increases (April 13, 2013)

        The Japanese government announced Friday, April 12, that it has reached agreement with the United States government on preliminary negotiations, paving the way to join talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. As the U.S. was the biggest obstacle for Japan in joining the trade liberalization talks, all the other TPP participating countries are highly likely to approve Japan’s participation. On the other hand, in an effort to join the talks in haste, Japan made an apparent concession in such areas as automobiles. This means Japan has given away most of the cards before engaging in   the TPP negotiations, and is likely to face a difficult phase in … Continue reading

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【Editorial】 Japan-U.S. preliminary talks reach agreement; Japan reveals its weak-kneed negotiating stance (April 13, 2013)

  The bilateral preparatory negotiations between Japan and the United States, dubbed the “entrance fee” for joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, were concluded. Japan acceded to U.S. demands and made significant concessions in the areas of beef, automobiles and insurance. Not a glimpse of “a strong negotiating power” as insisted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could be seen in the negotiations concerning Japan’s participation in the TPP. Japan is expected to join the TPP negotiations as early as July, but how can we expect the government, with such a diplomatic stance leaning heavily toward the U.S., to protect key agricultural products, the Japanese people’s lives and the national … Continue reading

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【Analysis】 Joint statement on Japan-U.S. preliminary talks for TPP – Japan’s acceptance of U.S. demands as-is (April 13, 2013)

  The preparatory talks between Japan and the United States to allow Japan join the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks reached agreement, with Japan making significant concessions in various areas. The vital point is that Japan gave in totally to the U.S. demands concerning the automotive sector, which means Japan has given away before entering actual negotiations its biggest bargaining chip to win exemptions from tariff elimination for key products. As Japan allowed the U.S. to backload lifting of tariffs on imports of Japanese motor vehicles, its economic partnership strategy began to waver fundamentally. Other countries such as the European Union members, China and South Korea are also likely to follow … Continue reading

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