A delegation of the Japan Agriculture group left for Hawaii on Tuesday, July 28, to lobby for exemption of sensitive farm products from the negotiations under the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks. As the TPP member nations were to hold a ministerial meeting there aimed at settling the talks, delegation members will call on the government and ruling party lawmakers to follow the Diet resolution, while meeting with representatives of agricultural organizations in other TPP member countries to gather information.
The delegation includes Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), heads of JA-Zenchu’s committees dealing with key agricultural products, as well as leaders of the National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations (JA Zen-Noh), the JA group’s political organization and the group’s youth association.
There is an increasing concern among the JA group over the government which is reported to be considering making concessions regarding market liberalization of sensitive agricultural products.
The delegation will pressure the government, which is apparently eager to conclude the talks along with the United States government, to realize the Diet resolution instead of rushing to make a compromise.
(July 28, 2015)