Japan Press Weekly

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2013 March 13 - 19 [ECONOMY]

PM announces Japan’s entry into TPP talks in midst of protests

In defiance of a shower of fierce protests from farmers, union activists, and concerned citizens, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on March 15 announced that Japan will formally enter into negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement.

Regarding concerns over the possible serious impacts on the farming industry and the health insurance system, the prime minister at a press conference said that he will protect items that should be protected through bargaining and do his utmost to protect national interests.

He, however, avoided providing a clear answer when reporters asked him whether the PM will withdraw from the TPP talks, if he finds that the TPP is harmful for Japan.

Meanwhile, Abe said that it is difficult for late-comer Japan to overturn rules already approved by the TPP member nations and that Japan will be required to accept certain disadvantageous conditions.

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo later on the same day criticized the prime minister’s announcement for breaking the Liberal Democratic Party’s election promise to not enter the TPP.

He expressed his determination to work hard to develop collaboration with the general public to protest against Japan’s participation in the TPP talks through efforts to increase public awareness about the possibility that Japan’s entry into the TPP will destroy the very foundation of the Japanese economy as well as Japan’s primary industry, medical services, labor market, and food safety, and lead to significant weakening of national sovereignty.

Groups of farmers, workers, and concerned citizens released their statements in protest against the prime minister’s participation announcement.

The National Federation of Farmers Movement (Nominren) in its statement called for the withdrawal of the decision.

President of the Central Union of Japan Agricultural Co-operatives (JA Zenchu) Banzai Akira in the statement expressed his determination to hold protest actions consistently.

On March 12, three days before the prime minister’s announcement, JA together with other organizations like consumers cooperatives held a protest rally in central Tokyo with 4,000 concerned citizens.