Farmers resolve to oppose government plan to join TPP

Japan Press Weekly

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

Farmers resolve to oppose government plan to join TPP

The Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-ZENCHU) on October 19 in a rally adopted resolutions calling for government measures against a sharp fall in the rice price and for full financial support to farmers and opposing the government plan to start negotiations on a U.S.-backed multilateral trans-Pacific free-trade pact (TPP).

About 1,000 local JA branch leaders and JA officials took part in the rally.

Citing the fact that Prime Minister Kan Naoto has shown his intention to consider joining negotiations on the TPP, JA-ZENCHU President Moteki Mamoru pointed out that the TPP is a trade agreement aiming to completely open the nation's agriculture market to other countries.

He criticized the government by saying, "How can the government ensure consistency between the plan to enter the TPP and its policy to increase Japan's food self-sufficiency rate?", and expressed his determination to block Japan's participation in the free trade pact.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilor Kami Tomoko as well as other six political parties' lawmakers who are in charge of agricultural issues also attended the rally.

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Foreign Minister Maehara Seiji on October 19 at a lecture meeting in Tokyo said that Japan "should join the TPP".

Furthermore, Maehara stated, "Products of the primary industries constitute 1.5 percent of Japan's GDP (Gross Domestic Products). In order to protect such products, most of the rest of the 98.5 are being sacrificed, I believe."

Pointing out that the number of countries Japan has concluded an economic partnership agreement and a free trade agreement with is less than that of South Korea, Maehara said, "We have to really think about opening Japan's market to the world, or Japan's competitiveness will further weaken."

- Akahata, October 20, 2010