Japan’s ruling LDP presses gov’t not bend to US pressure

TOKYO, Aug. 31 ― Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has pressed the government’s top official to stick to the national interests, as Tokyo is set to hold its second ministerial meeting with the U.S. under a new framework to discuss “free, fair and reciprocal (FFR)” trade.

The LDP’s internal trade task force, which deals with the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), held a meeting on Aug. 30.

During the meeting, the LDP lawmakers reminded Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi that the upcoming ministerial talks with the U.S. should not become the preliminary talks on launching an official free trade negotiation between the two.

“We heard many concerns raised by farmers, including issues such as more market access to agricultural imports and the livelihood of farmers,” said Hiroshi Moriyama, chairman of the LDP’s Diet Affairs Committee.

Motegi replied: “I have repeatedly explained to my US counterpart that our TPP offer was the maximum Japan could bear for the agricultural market access and there will be no more concession.”

With the top trade negotiator having said that, however, the government has not firmly denied any possibility that Tokyo may offer Washington the same level of market access that it promises in the TPP deal or to launch a free trade negotiation between the two countries.

Japan and the U.S. completed their first meeting in August, with no progress.

The next round of the ministerial meeting is expected to be held in late September, just before the two leaders are to meet on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

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