Tag Archives: News

【News】 Japanese agricultural group agrees with Canadian counterpart on the need to maintain both countries’ tariffs on key agricultural products (Sept. 18, 2013)

Posted on 2013-09-18 by The Japan Agricultural News

  The delegation of the Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-Zenchu) to Canada, headed by JA-Zenchu Vice President Toshiaki Tobita, met with President Ron Bonnett of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, the country’s largest farmers’ organization, on Monday, September 16. The JA-Zenchu delegation is visiting Canada to gather information on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade negotiations.In the meeting, JA-Zenchu and the Canadian federation reconfirmed the importance of protecting various forms of agriculture in each country when liberalizing trade systems. They agreed to continue urging each of their countries’ governments to adhere to their policy of keeping tariffs on key agricultural products in the TPP negotiations. According to JA-Zenchu officials, Bonnett stressed … Continue reading →

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【News】 Government’s regulatory reform council to reach consensus on agricultural reform by year end (Sept. 13, 2013)

Posted on 2013-09-13 by The Japan Agricultural News

  The government’s regulatory reform council, chaired by Sumitomo Corp. Senior Adviser Motoyuki Oka, decided on Thursday, September 12, 49 items to discuss in five working groups. Eight items are related to the agricultural sector, including the role of Japan Agricultural Cooperatives and regional agricultural committees, and relaxing requirements for setting up agricultural enterprises. The council plans to reach conclusion by the end of this year, earlier than the previously-set deadline of June next year, in order to reflect the results in a plan to be created by the headquarters for the revitalization of the agricultural industry and regional economies, headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The council adopted the … Continue reading →

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【News】 Japanese firms teach Vietnamese farmers short-grain rice production for future exports to Japan (Sept. 12, 2013)

Posted on 2013-09-12 by The Japan Agricultural News

Kazuhiro Takamatsu  – Binh Giang, Vietnam In Vietnam, one of the member countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, Japanese firms are stepping up efforts to teach farmers ways to grow short-grain rice, or Japonica rice, for exporting. They are looking into future opportunities for Japan-bound exports, as they believe Japan will not be able to avoid lifting its tariff on rice amid increasing pressures from other TPP negotiators. If rice having the same quality as those grown in Japan is imported to Japan, domestic rice farmers could suffer even severer damage than the government estimates. The government should reconfirm the significance of protecting key agricultural products from tariff cuts. … Continue reading →

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【News】 New WTO chief expresses concern over the organization’s weakening presence (Sept. 11, 2013)

Posted on 2013-09-11 by The Japan Agricultural News

  Satoko Adachi – Geneva, Switzerland Roberto Azevedo, who took office as the new director general of the World Trade Organization in the beginning of this month, warned in his inaugural speech made Monday, September 9, that the organization risks being irrelevant. In the remarks made at a special meeting of the WTO’s general council, Azevedo referred to the prolonging negotiations of the Doha round, stating that the negotiating arm of the organization was struggling and the failure to address this paralysis casted a shadow over every other part of WTO’s work. “That’s why success at the Bali ministerial conference is vital,” he stressed, referring to the ministerial meeting to … Continue reading →

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【News】 Small tomatoes with skin quality improving components hit the market (Sept. 11, 2013)

Posted on 2013-09-11 by The Japan Agricultural News

A Tokyo-based firm has developed various varieties of medium-size and mini tomatoes which include five times as much proline and lycopene as large-size tomatoes. Both components have skin quality improving effects, as proline is a main component of collagen and lycopene suppresses formation of melanin, a cause for spots and freckles. Pioneer Ecoscience Co., a seed company, started selling a package of three varieties in June, targeted at women who care highly about the quality of their skin. The firm was expected to hold a sales promotion campaign in Tokyo on Saturday, September 14, and Sunday, September 15, together with Tokyo City Seika Co., a fruit and vegetable wholesale dealer … Continue reading →

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