Japan Press Weekly

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2017 June 28 - July 4 [ECONOMY]

Farmers urge the gov’t not to reach basic agreement with EU on EPA

A nationwide organization consisting of farmers’ groups, trade unions, and women’s organizations on July 3 petitioned the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, demanding that the government not make a basic agreement on the economic partnership free-trade agreement with the EU.

It is reported that Japan will reach a general conclusion with the EU on the EPA framework in the ongoing ministerial talks.

In the petitioning, the National Campaign for Defense of the People’s Food and Health (Shokukenren) demanded that the government disclose all information on EPA negotiations without delay as the free-trade pact with the EU will deliver a considerable blow to Japan’s farming and fishing industries. Shokukenren also requested that the ministry estimate the impact from the EPA on domestic industries and people’s livelihoods and released the results.

Shokukenren Secretary General Tateno Yutaka noted that Diet resolutions on the TPP called for protecting Japanese agriculture in addition to information disclosure. Tateno said that the government should immediately reveal the details of the Japan-EU negotiations.

Sasawatatri Yoshio, chair of the Japan Family Farmers Movement (Nouminren), said, “It is unacceptable for the government to conclude an agreement without providing any information to farmers who will be directly affected by the EPA.”

A ministry official in response said that countries negotiating the EPA can release information, but showed reluctance to do so.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Kami Tomoko took part in the petitioning.

Past related article:
> Tokyo Univ. professor points out problems with TPP [April 3, 2016]