November 12, 2011
Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko on November 11 at a press conference announced that he will start talks with concerned nations at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit meeting held this weekend in Hawaii toward Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade agreement.
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on the same day in a statement said as follows:
We condemn the prime minister for making the decision to participate in the TPP talks amid the increased public criticism and without providing any explanation to the public. The prime minister should retract his decision.
We have argued that Japan’s entry into the free-trade pact will hamper the progress of recovery in the 3.11 disaster-hit region; destroy the very foundation of producing a stable supply of food; promote imposition of U.S. demands on Japan in various spheres; and inflict a heavy blow to Japan’s job market and domestic demand as well as to the entire Japanese economy.
Even though Noda was unable to respond to these criticisms, he made the decision to join the TPP talks just before the APEC conference. This shows his position prioritizing U.S. demands while discounting Japanese public criticism and anxiety.
As the first step in entering the TPP talks, the Japanese government will be required to hold a prior consultation with the U.S. government. In the consultation, there is an extremely high possibility that the U.S. government will force Japan to accept all its demands based on the two major principles of the TPP: complete elimination of tariffs and removal of non-tariff barriers.
If the Japanese government pushes ahead with preparation for Japan’s participation in the TPP negotiations, it will further widen the gap between public opinion and the government and will provoke anger and protest from the general public.
In order to prevent Japan from entering into the free-trade negotiations, the JCP is continuing to play a role in supporting people’s movements and in the legislative arena.
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The Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu) and the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (JF Zengyoren) both published statements in protest against the PM’s decision.
JA-Zenchu President Banzai Akira at a news conference on the same day said, “Our consistent position has been to block the government from joining the multilateral free-trade pact. In collaboration with people in various fields, including doctors’ organizations and consumers’ groups, we will continue with our efforts to hinder Japan’s entry into the TPP talks.”
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on the same day in a statement said as follows:
We condemn the prime minister for making the decision to participate in the TPP talks amid the increased public criticism and without providing any explanation to the public. The prime minister should retract his decision.
We have argued that Japan’s entry into the free-trade pact will hamper the progress of recovery in the 3.11 disaster-hit region; destroy the very foundation of producing a stable supply of food; promote imposition of U.S. demands on Japan in various spheres; and inflict a heavy blow to Japan’s job market and domestic demand as well as to the entire Japanese economy.
Even though Noda was unable to respond to these criticisms, he made the decision to join the TPP talks just before the APEC conference. This shows his position prioritizing U.S. demands while discounting Japanese public criticism and anxiety.
As the first step in entering the TPP talks, the Japanese government will be required to hold a prior consultation with the U.S. government. In the consultation, there is an extremely high possibility that the U.S. government will force Japan to accept all its demands based on the two major principles of the TPP: complete elimination of tariffs and removal of non-tariff barriers.
If the Japanese government pushes ahead with preparation for Japan’s participation in the TPP negotiations, it will further widen the gap between public opinion and the government and will provoke anger and protest from the general public.
In order to prevent Japan from entering into the free-trade negotiations, the JCP is continuing to play a role in supporting people’s movements and in the legislative arena.
* * *
The Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives (JA-Zenchu) and the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (JF Zengyoren) both published statements in protest against the PM’s decision.
JA-Zenchu President Banzai Akira at a news conference on the same day said, “Our consistent position has been to block the government from joining the multilateral free-trade pact. In collaboration with people in various fields, including doctors’ organizations and consumers’ groups, we will continue with our efforts to hinder Japan’s entry into the TPP talks.”
