Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), asked Akira Amari, minister in charge of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, on Monday, July 27, to keep the Diet resolution calling for protection of key farm products.
In a meeting held in Tokyo before Amari left for Hawaii to attend the ministerial meeting of the TPP member nations, Banzai urged the minister to maintain a harsh stance in the negotiations.
In response, Amari said: “The negotiations are entering the final stage, and we are determined to be tough in negotiating, keeping in mind the national interests.”
Banzai was accompanied by JA-Zenchu’s vice presidents Toshiaki Tobita and Toru Nakaya, Toyokuni Kakurai, head of the JA group’s political organization, Yoshimi Nakano, chairman of the National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations (JA Zen-Noh), Tamotsu Shozui, chairman of the National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Kyosairen) and Norinchukin Bank President and CEO Yoshio Kono.
As the TPP negotiations are nearing conclusion, Banzai told Amari that the JA group held a rally earlier in the day and confirmed their determination to continue urging the government to keep the resolution adopted by the Lower House agricultural committee.
Looking back on the negotiations, Amari said the government managed to exert a strong negotiating power supported by the resolution. “We think this will be the last negotiation,” he said, adding that he will make utmost efforts to settle the talks in the way which “can be easily judged by people as being consistent with the resolution.”
Banzai told reporters after the meeting that the JA group strongly hopes the government will keep its word.
(July 28, 2015)