February 5, 2016
As part of the international protests against the signing ceremony of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact, union activists, farmers, and anti-TPP citizens on February 4 took to the streets of Tokyo’s major shopping district in Ginza.
Carrying a banner reading, “TPP threatens people’s livelihoods, local communities, human rights and Japan’s sovereignty,” the protesters distributed leaflets which explain the problems associated with the TPP framework.
The action was organized by the Japan Family Farmers' Movement (Nouminren), the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), and many civil groups.
Using a microphone from a campaign van, the representatives of the groups in turn appealed to passersby, saying that the TPP will undermine Japan’s medical system, the employment situation, and food safety.
On the same day, Nouminren and the National Campaign for the Defense of the People's Food and Health (Shokkenren) made representations to the Agriculture Ministry in regard to possible adverse effects of the TPP.
Shokkenren Secretary General Sakaguchi Masaaki cited the ministry’s claim that if the TPP takes effect, Japan’s food imports will increase and domestic agricultural production will be maintained with government support measures. He asked if the ministry really thinks that it will be able to hammer out support measures without assessing the degree of potential damage.
A ministry official in reply said that the ministry will take all necessary measures to maintain the volume of domestic food production.
Nouminren Secretary General Yoshikawa Toshiaki pointed out that the TPP requires that tariffs on agricultural products be gradually eliminated without exception. To accept such a demand is impermissible as it clearly goes against a Diet resolution which requires the government to ensure that rice and four other key agricultural products will be excluded from tariff cuts, he stressed.
The participants said that the ministry’s claim is totally unrealistic and that they will strengthen the public movement to prevent the Diet from giving its approval to the TPP.
Carrying a banner reading, “TPP threatens people’s livelihoods, local communities, human rights and Japan’s sovereignty,” the protesters distributed leaflets which explain the problems associated with the TPP framework.
The action was organized by the Japan Family Farmers' Movement (Nouminren), the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), and many civil groups.
Using a microphone from a campaign van, the representatives of the groups in turn appealed to passersby, saying that the TPP will undermine Japan’s medical system, the employment situation, and food safety.
On the same day, Nouminren and the National Campaign for the Defense of the People's Food and Health (Shokkenren) made representations to the Agriculture Ministry in regard to possible adverse effects of the TPP.
Shokkenren Secretary General Sakaguchi Masaaki cited the ministry’s claim that if the TPP takes effect, Japan’s food imports will increase and domestic agricultural production will be maintained with government support measures. He asked if the ministry really thinks that it will be able to hammer out support measures without assessing the degree of potential damage.
A ministry official in reply said that the ministry will take all necessary measures to maintain the volume of domestic food production.
Nouminren Secretary General Yoshikawa Toshiaki pointed out that the TPP requires that tariffs on agricultural products be gradually eliminated without exception. To accept such a demand is impermissible as it clearly goes against a Diet resolution which requires the government to ensure that rice and four other key agricultural products will be excluded from tariff cuts, he stressed.
The participants said that the ministry’s claim is totally unrealistic and that they will strengthen the public movement to prevent the Diet from giving its approval to the TPP.
