The Upper House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries made a resolution concerning Japan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, saying that the government should withdraw from the TPP negotiations if the national interests are not protected. The Lower House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is expected to make a similar resolution. It is the Diet’s manifestation of strong concerns over the TPP negotiations, which it says could give a serious damage not only on the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector but on people’s lives as a whole. The resolution of the Diet, the supreme authority of state power, is of great significance, and the government should take it seriously.
Japan and the United States’ preparatory talks on Japan’s joining the TPP ended up with Japan making a substantial concession. Looking at the outcomes of the talks, we cannot help having concerns over the Japanese government’s negotiating power. If Japan is to participate in the TPP negotiations in the near future, the government will face an uphill battle to protect the national interests in the crucial stage of negotiations for the key areas of the agricultural sector. The Diet has the responsibility to closely watch the negotiations so as to prevent the government from making concessions which go against the national interests.
In doing so, disclosure of information is indispensable. The Upper House resolution calls on the government to immediately report to the Diet any information it gains through the negotiations, as well as sufficiently informing the Japanese people. It reflects the Diet’s irritation over the fact that the TPP negotiations are held behind closed doors.
It is said that concerning the TPP negotiations, not even the texts will be unveiled until the member countries reach a final agreement. It is impossible, however, to check whether the national interests are protected unless no information is disclosed on what demands are made by other TPP participants or how Japan’s standpoint is being taken by other members. The government should definitely respond to requests for disclosure of information.
The resolution, based on the resolution adopted by the Liberal Democratic Party, clearly identifies the national interests which should be protected. It notes that the key products in the agricultural sector are rice, wheat, beef, pork, dairy products and sugar. It says that the products should be exempted from tariff elimination or be separately renegotiated, and rejected gradual reduction of tariffs even if it is to be implemented over the period of more than ten years. In the LDP resolution, the two policies were separately described in the resolution text and the attached document, using vague expressions which could be interpreted in various ways. It was a big step forward that the Diet resolution made the stances clear.
New concerns arose after Japan and the U.S. reached agreement on preliminary negotiations. In the bilateral negotiations which the two governments are expected to hold in parallel with the TPP talks, the two sides are to negotiate on such issues as measures concerning the safety of food products, which is related to the national interests, in response to the U.S. demand. It is highly likely that the bilateral negotiations will become the talks of vital importance or a “virtual Japan-U.S. free trade agreement” as some describes them. Japan could be carried off its feet if it concentrated only on the TPP negotiations.
Considering such concerns, the Diet resolution also states that attention should be given to bilateral negotiations, showing its will to keep its eyes on bilateral talks with the U.S., Australia and other TPP members to make sure Japan’s national interests are protected. In particular, it is possible for the governments of Japan and the U.S. to exchange letters concerning the agreement on preliminary negotiations, which means the outcomes of negotiations could take effect without even taking the steps of ratification by the Diet. Therefore, the Diet should constantly observe the government’s moves. Based on the Diet resolution, the government must make clear that it will disclose information on all negotiations including bilateral talks, and map out a decisive course that it will withdraw from the negotiations if the national interests are not ensured.
(April 19, 2013)