Akira Banzai, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu), urged farm minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Monday, July 27, to keep the Diet resolution which calls for exemption of key farm products from the negotiations under the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade liberalization initiative. Ahead of the ministerial meeting scheduled to start in Hawaii on Tuesday, July 28, Banzai demanded that the government negotiate with farmers’ feelings in mind and work on protecting national interests at an important stage of the talks. Regarding reports that Japan is considering setting a special import quota for U.S. rice, Banzai said farmers are “extremely worried about” the outcome of the negotiations especially on rice. … Continue reading →

  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 … Continue reading →

Some 1,500 people from the agricultural sector nationwide gathered on Monday, July 27, to urge the government not to make concessions in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks. They called on negotiators not to aim for hasty conclusion of the talks, saying they should never cross the red line of going against the Diet’s resolutions of protecting key farm items. The rally was held in Tokyo, co-sponsored by five national agricultural associations. “We want the government to put into practice what was approved by the Diet. That is all we ask for,” Toyokuni Kakurai, head of the national federation of farmers’ political organizations, said in an opening remark. Until now, such … Continue reading →