The Budget Committee of the House of Representatives held a meeting for extensive deliberation on “Abe Cabinet’s fundamental policy” on May 8.
At the meeting, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his policy on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that Japan will play a leading role in having the TPP free trade pact take effect without the participation of the United States, saying “We will further promote close collaboration among eleven member countries of the TPP by exercising Japan’s leadership in the Pacific Region. I do not rule out any option. I would like to discuss the best way for the TPP with leaders of its member countries.”
Prime Minister Abe also expressed eagerness to implement the U.S.-less TPP free trade pact by saying “I wish to lead the talks with TPP member countries towards implementation of the high-standard trade rules agreed at the TPP negotiations.”
Meanwhile, opposition parties’ members of the Budget Committee pointed out that Japan will not benefit from making a new TPP free trade deal with its ten member countries without the U.S.
Diet members of the opposition parties also urged that the Shinzo Abe’s administration should mull an appropriate strategy, instead of rushing into negotiations that have already been influenced by limited choices of frameworks of the TPP pact such as “U.S.-less TPP 11” or a preceding TPP pact of five countries.”