April 14, 2011
Japanese Communist Party parliamentarian Kasai Akira on April 13 urged the government to cancel its participation in negotiations for Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) as the agricultural, forestry, and fisheries industries are suffering from the devastating damages caused by the massive earthquake, tsunami and ongoing nuclear crisis.
At a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee meeting, Kasai argued that now is the time to exert every effort to relieve disaster victims and reconstruct damaged areas rather than negotiating the free-trade TPP pact.
Foreign Minister Matsumoto Takeaki answered, however, that the government has no intention to cancel its initial plan to take part in the TPP negotiations.
Pointing out that seven prefectures in the Tohoku and Kanto regions adopted statements expressing opposition to or concerns over Japan’s entry into the TPP, Kasai said, “Following the major quake and nuclear crisis, the TPP will be a triple-hit for the regions.”
The Agriculture Ministry estimated that so far the agricultural and fisheries industries have lost 1.4 trillion yen due to the major disaster. The ministry’s official stated in the committee meeting that it will take a long time to fully determine the total loss.
At a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee meeting, Kasai argued that now is the time to exert every effort to relieve disaster victims and reconstruct damaged areas rather than negotiating the free-trade TPP pact.
Foreign Minister Matsumoto Takeaki answered, however, that the government has no intention to cancel its initial plan to take part in the TPP negotiations.
Pointing out that seven prefectures in the Tohoku and Kanto regions adopted statements expressing opposition to or concerns over Japan’s entry into the TPP, Kasai said, “Following the major quake and nuclear crisis, the TPP will be a triple-hit for the regions.”
The Agriculture Ministry estimated that so far the agricultural and fisheries industries have lost 1.4 trillion yen due to the major disaster. The ministry’s official stated in the committee meeting that it will take a long time to fully determine the total loss.
