April 21, 2013

The 11 nations joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks, including the United States, issued a joint statement on April 20 at a ministerial meeting in Surabaya, Indonesia, unanimously approving Japan’s participation in the free-trade negotiations.

Ahead of this, in talks with the U.S. in mid-April, Japan accepted all demands from its counterpart in the fields of beef, automobile, and the insurance industry. The American government, for example, convinced the Japanese side to accept the U.S. request to postpone cutting tariffs on Japanese vehicles as long as possible.

Canada, the last country that approved Japan’s entry into the free trade talks, has reportedly requested Japan to grant it the same consideration as given to the U.S. regarding tariffs on Japanese cars.

Japan has already put itself in a difficult position at it will have to respond to demands made by other TPP member nations as it made substantial concessions to the U.S. in return for gaining the U.S. approval for Japan’s participation in the TPP talks.

Even if Japan takes part in the negotiations after making further concessions, it will be impossible for Japan to negotiate on issues which the other participating countries have already agreed upon.

The 11 nations are requiring the Japanese government to achieve a “comprehensive, high-standard agreement” as described in the “Outlines of the TPP Agreement” they announced in November last year. The principle of the free-trade deal is eliminating tariffs on all goods.

There is no guarantee that Prime Minister Abe Shinzo can keep his promise that he will “protect national interests” in the TPP talks.

Related past article:
> Abe makes large concessions in pre-TPP talks with US [April 14, 2013]