Part 3; Draft texts for the agreement are kept under the covers Takanori Okabe Some congressmen and their assistants have access to the draft of the text being negotiated in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks. The delegation of Japanese anti-TPP lawmakers was shocked on Tuesday, April 23, the second day of its visit to the United States, when the group heard this from an assistant to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, a long-serving Republican. Delegation members were shocked to know that the negotiating texts are actually made available to some U.S. policymakers, although the TPP participants were said to have signed a confidentiality agreement at the outset of the negotiations which … Continue reading →

  Part 2; U.S. auto industry is still not happy Takanori Okabe In the bilateral preparatory negotiations between Japan and the United States concerning Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, the two nations struck a deal, with Japan making significant concessions in the automotive sector, including allowing U.S. car tariffs to be kept to the maximum extent. The U.S. auto industry, as well as Congress backed by the industry, however, is not happy with the agreement. When the delegation of Japanese anti-TPP lawmakers visiting the U.S. asked whether the U.S. auto industry will support Japan’s entry into the TPP talks under the conditions agreed in the preliminary negotiations, … Continue reading →

Part 1; Scrapping tariffs across the board Takanori Okabe In late April, a delegation of National Conference to Consider the TPP, a group of experts and lawmakers who are against Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, visited the United States to exchange opinions with officials of the U.S. government, Congress and industries concerning the TPP talks. Takanori Okabe of The Japan Agricultural News, who accompanied the delegation, reports on the U.S.’ real intention which surfaced during the visit, including their opposition to allowing exceptions in scrapping tariffs, and on the differences between the recognitions of Japan and the U.S. In the TPP negotiations, there is a basic principle … Continue reading →