Do not enter into FTA negotiations with U.S.

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Do not enter into FTA negotiations with U.S.

In the debate sponsored by the Japan National Press Club on August 17, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo questioned Democratic Party of Japan leader Hatoyama Yukio about the DPJ's call for the promotion of free trade agreement (FTA) talks with the United States. This part of the debate is summarized as below:

Shii Kazuo: This policy proposed by the DPJ has caused anxieties among a wide range of farmers and other citizens. It is because a conclusion of a Japan-U.S. FTA will have a devastating effect on Japanese agriculture, especially on rice farmers.

An estimate shows that if an FTA between the two nations eliminates tariffs, Japan's agricultural production will rapidly decrease. It suggests that in that case, production of rice will be reduced to only 18 percent, which means that 82 percent of the production of Japanese people's staple food will be destroyed. This is a matter of life and death for the citizens.

The DPJ has stated that a Japan-U.S. FTA will not prevent the promotion of Japanese agriculture. However, is there any chance to exclude rice and other agricultural products from FTA negotiations? There is no such a chance as the U.S. side has clearly stated that agricultural products, including rice, should be the center of a Japan-U.S. FTA.

Therefore, we think that Japan should not begin FTA talks with the U.S. What do you think?

Hatoyama: I do not believe so at all.

Japan has had FTA talks with many countries, and rice, wheat, and other main crops have all been excluded from the talks. It is a matter of course to strengthen economic relations toward promoting free trade while protecting national interests. We believe that it is possible to promote FTA negotiations while protecting rice, wheat, and other main crops as our national interest.

Shii: We do not oppose revitalization of trades with the U.S. However, rice and other agricultural products are the only U.S. imports on which Japan sets high tariffs, so they will be inevitably included in a bilateral FTA. I would like to emphasize again that we should not begin FTA negotiations with the U.S.

- Akahata, August 18, 2009