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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday, Oct. 6, that the government will create a task force to tackle any negative impact on domestic industries from a possible surge in agricultural imports, following the agreement of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade scheme reached the previous day. The task force, which will include all Cabinet members, will be launched after Akira Amari, minister in charge of the talks, returns from Atlanta where the TPP member nations held a ministerial meeting. It aims to come up with a package of measures to deal with the issue before the government submits a bill to approve the TPP deal to the Diet. “The whole government will … Continue reading →

  Takanori Okabe, Satomi Tamai and Hayato Niki – Atlanta Under the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement, which was reached on Monday, Oct. 5, Japan will establish new rice import quotas for the United States and Australia, while largely cutting beef and pork tariffs and the markup – an effective tariff – on wheat imports, it was learned the same day. Japan will also create low-tariff import quotas for powdered skim milk and butter, and increase imports of sugar products. Regarding rice, Japan will set up new tax-free import quotas at 50,000 tons for the U.S. and 6,000 tons for Australia, which will be expanded to 70,000 tons and 8,400 tons, … Continue reading →

  Takanori Okabe, Satomi Tamai and Hayato Niki – Atlanta The 12 member nations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks reached a landmark agreement at a ministerial meeting held in Atlanta on Monday, Oct. 5, which represents a major turning point for Japan’s agriculture in the years to come. As for the most controversial issue of rice, Japan has agreed to establish new import quotas for the United States and Australia totaling 78,400 tons. Under the agreement, Japan will have to further open its markets for other farm products as well. The agreement was reached Monday after marathon negotiating sessions in Atlanta through the weekend over such thorny issues as … Continue reading →

  Takanori Okabe – Atlanta As the ministers of the member nations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks meet in Atlanta with hopes of reaching an agreement, two senior U.S. Congressmen said that even if a TPP deal is concluded, they would not support it if it falls short of Congress’ expectations. They urged negotiators to realize an agreement which benefits the U.S. workers and businesses, apparently pressuring them not to make concessions regarding such thorny issues as the period of patent protection for next-generation biotech drugs and access to dairy markets. Increasing pressure by Congress could make the U.S. government act more harshly in the ministerial meetings. “No one … Continue reading →