November 16, 2010
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference (APEC) held on November 7-14 in Yokohama City ended up as the venue to accelerate Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) promoted by the Japanese government, multinational corporations, and the U.S. government. The government of Japan will inevitably further distance itself from what the Japanese farmers and consumers expect it to do.
During a forum for discussion between APEC leaders and the business circles of each country, called the APEC CEO Summit, Japan Business Federation Chairman Yonekura Hiromasa pressed the government of Japan to promptly participate in negotiations towards Japan’s entry into the TPP, arguing, “Evaluating the national interest in a comprehensive manner, there will be no other option (than to join the TPP).”
U.S. President Barack Obama, at a summit meeting held with the leaders of nine APEC nations to discuss the TPP pact, also showed his firm intention to conclude the negotiations on the free-trade agreement before he hosts an APEC summit in Hawaii scheduled for November 2011. He especially welcomed Japan’s positive attitude in regard to joining the TPP.
Japan’s Prime Minister Kan Naoto in the APEC leaders’ declaration “The Yokohama Vision – Bogor and Beyond” put forward the idea to create an APEC community encompassing regional economic integration. Placing a top priority on “trade and investment” to be “freer and more open,” the Yokohama Vision voices what multinational corporations are seeking and stresses the need to realize a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) as a step toward creating an APEC community.
The leaders of APEC nations have agreed to aim for economic integration under an FTAAP framework. However, developing countries have expressed concern about developed countries’ rush for integration.
- Akahata, November 16, 2010
U.S. President Barack Obama, at a summit meeting held with the leaders of nine APEC nations to discuss the TPP pact, also showed his firm intention to conclude the negotiations on the free-trade agreement before he hosts an APEC summit in Hawaii scheduled for November 2011. He especially welcomed Japan’s positive attitude in regard to joining the TPP.
Japan’s Prime Minister Kan Naoto in the APEC leaders’ declaration “The Yokohama Vision – Bogor and Beyond” put forward the idea to create an APEC community encompassing regional economic integration. Placing a top priority on “trade and investment” to be “freer and more open,” the Yokohama Vision voices what multinational corporations are seeking and stresses the need to realize a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) as a step toward creating an APEC community.
The leaders of APEC nations have agreed to aim for economic integration under an FTAAP framework. However, developing countries have expressed concern about developed countries’ rush for integration.
- Akahata, November 16, 2010
