November 23, 2012

Akahata editorial (excerpt)

Japan’s Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko on November 20 told U.S. President Barak Obama that the Japanese government will accelerate its negotiations with the U.S. towards Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade pact.

Many Japanese people, including agricultural, forestry, and fishermen’s groups and doctors’ associations, are opposing Japan’s joining the TPP that requires member nations to abolish their tariff barriers and obey “American-style” rules.

Swallowing US demands in ‘prior talks’

The Noda Administration explained last November that the talks with concerned countries such as the U.S. are just “prior consultations” to gather information about the TPP. In reality, Japan has been forced to accept U.S. demands one after another.

As “admission fees” to the free trade agreement, the Obama Administration has pressed Japan to ease regulations on the beef, insurance, and automobile industries. At the U.S. request, the Japanese government started to relax its BSE regulations to import more American beef and announced that it will force Japan Post Insurance Co. from selling cancer insurance.

The U.S. is also reportedly urging Japan to repeal its standards on light vehicles. PM Noda argues that those negotiations have nothing to do with the TPP, refusing to disclose the details to lawmakers.

If Japan participates in the TPP agreement, it will be obliged to eliminate all tariffs and Japan’s agriculture will be on the brink of total collapse. Such American type rules resemble “the law of the jungle” and will threaten the safety of food products as well as destroy the universal health insurance system, of which Japan is justly proud, by privatizing medical treatments uncovered by the health insurance.

Countries involved in the TPP talks have already held secretive meetings many times. If Japan joins in the negotiations, it will have to accept the terms those nations have already concluded. The Noda Cabinet is deceiving the general public by saying that it can protect Japan’s interests.

Let’s spread national campaign

Many civil groups such as the Japan Agricultural Co-operatives and Japan Medical Association are strongly objecting to Japan’s participation in the free trade agreement, and about 90% of local assemblies across the nation have adopted resolutions against the pact. It is time to expand the national movements and force the pro-TPP groups to give up their game plan.

Liberal Democratic Party head Abe Shinzo and the Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) also take a positive attitude towards the TPP. To protect people’s lives, it is needed for the Japanese Communist Party, which argues against Japan’s taking part in the pact, to achieve a great advance in the upcoming general election.

Related past articles
> Political parties’ attitudes toward TPP [September 25, 2012]