Ministerial meeting of the Trans-Pacific Partnership member nations in Singapore ended without much progress. However, when Prime Ministecxgvcr Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Barack Obama met in April, the two nations are reported to have agreed on a “formula” to reach a bilateral deal, and worries are growing among the public over the possibility that Japanese negotiators would make a compromise regarding tariffs on key agricultural products. Rounds of TPP negotiations are expected to take place before chief negotiators meet in July, and we must work together to reaffirm domestic consensus on the negotiating policies.
What the negotiators mean by the term “formula” is to find common ground by combining different elements such as the degree and period of tariff phaseouts and introduction of safeguard measures on imports of sensitive farm products should they surge under the TPP. It indicates some kind of steps will be taken to further open Japan’s markets, and we have to say it goes against the Diet resolutions which urge the government to maintain tariffs on key agricultural products.
Meanwhile, in the negotiations held in Singapore, the U.S. began expressing opposition towards introduction of safeguard measures, strongly pressured by American agricultural lobby groups which demand elimination of all tariffs in principle. Maybe children will feel offended by this expression, but the U.S. government is acting like a child who is doing only as he is told. This is apparently because it has not obtained the trade promotion authority (TPA).
U.S. Congress has the Constitutional authority to set trade policies, but the TPA – otherwise known as fast-track approval – gives the president authority to negotiate trade deals that Congress can pass or reject but cannot amend. Without the authority, even if the two nations agree on a trade deal, Congress might ask for renegotiation if it thinks liberalization of Japan’s agricultural markets is insufficient. This is why the U.S. negotiators have to comply with the demands of Congressmen and farm lobbies that support them, sometimes even overturning what have already been agreed upon between the governments.
This indicates that even if the two governments agree on a degree of tariff reduction for a certain product, it is possible for the U.S. government to ask for further cuts if Congress is not satisfied with the agreement. Akira Amari, minister in charge of the TPP, said at the ministerial meeting that Japan is ready to improve market access for key agricultural products, but such a remark, which can be taken as acceptance of further market liberalization, poses a risk of dragging Japan into an unrecoverable situation.
One reason why Japan could avoid reaching bilateral agreement that goes against the Diet resolutions is because farmers, citizens and agricultural lobbies including the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives group worked actively to mold public opinion which supports the resolutions. The round of talks under the World Trade Organization is nowhere near conclusion even after 12 years of negotiations. With 10 months having passed after Japan joined the TPP negotiations, we should be aware that we still have a long road ahead of us and continue our fight against the TPP with renewed determination to protect our nation and agriculture.
Working-level negotiations are expected to continue until July, when chief negotiators are scheduled to meet. U.S. Congress’ pressure to open Japan’s markets is highly likely to grow before the midterm elections in November. The Japanese government must disclose information on the negotiations to the Diet and the public, discuss the issue seriously, and backed by the people’s voices calling on the government to keep the resolutions, create a consensus among the government, the Diet and the public not to budge an inch regarding the negotiations.
(May 22, 2014)