Japan Press Weekly

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2008 May 28 - June 3 [AGRICULTURE]

U.S. puts ‘pressures’ on Japan regarding usage of imported rice

It has come to light that the U.S. has put pressure on Japan to limit the use of rice it has imported through a minimum market access quota imposed by the World Trade Organization.

In response to the request of the Philippines which suffers rice shortage, the Japanese government is considering releasing part of its stockpile of rice imported through a minimum access quota.

The U.S. casts a shadow on the Japanese consideration.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, a spokesman of the Office of the United States Trade Representative released a statement on May 15.

The statement reportedly said that the U.S. government has so far asked Japan to import minimum access rice for domestic consumption but that under the present circumstances relating to the rice market of this year, it would be justifiable for Japan to consider taking extraordinary measures aimed at helping to stabilize the international rice market.

The WTO minimum access system gives its member states an “opportunity,” not obligation, to import a minimum amount of rice. However, the Japanese government recognizes it as obligation to import 7.2 percent of the amount of domestically-consumed rice. It imports 770,000 tons of rice every year. As of March this year, it has 1.3 million tons of rice in stock.

How to use minimum access rice is not something that Japan should ask for U.S. consent to, as an Agricultural Ministry official acknowledged. But the U.S. government statement gives rise to concerns on the part of the public that it controls Japan’s minimum access rice.

Sasawatari Yoshio, secretary general of the National Liaison of the Farmers’ Movement (Nouminren) issued the following comment on that matter.

“Due to the international shortage of rice and other grains, more than 10 nations, including China and Vietnam, have restricted rice exports. However, the Japanese government continuously forces domestic farmers to reduce their rice production and sticks to its policy of importing 770,000 tons of rice under the minimum access system.

Japan’s continuation of rice imports will only exacerbate the global shortage of rice and associated price hikes as well as prevent developing countries from obtaining the food they need. This only aggravates the present global food shortage and must not be allowed for humanitarian reasons.”