The first anti-TPP joint struggle formed in primary industries

Japan Press Weekly

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

The first anti-TPP joint struggle formed in primary industries

Primary industrial organizations of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and dairy in Oita Prefecture on December 6 formed a joint struggle calling for opposition to Japan's entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).

This is the first time in Japan that organizations involved in the primary industries are uniting to campaign against entry into the TPP.

Representatives of the prefecture's seven organizations of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and dairy on the same day jointly held a news conference. A fisheries cooperative representative said, "Japan already liberalized its markets, and because of that we are experiencing a decline in the price for fish. We must stand firm and oppose further liberalization." A dairy cooperative representative said, "While the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is still affecting our operations, an entry into the TPP will deprive cattle farmers of any chance to survive."

One of the leaders in the joint struggle Sato Hiroshi stated, "While calling for an increase in the food self-sufficiency rate to 50 percent, the government is intending to join the TPP. This is an insult to all the people involved in the primary industries."

He expressed his determination, saying, "I will strongly proclaim our position to the government that without Japan's food sovereignty, there won't be any development of this country."

- Akahata, December 7, 2010