Japan Press Weekly

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2016 November 9 - 15 [POLITICS]

Shii determines to kill TPP bills through intense debate in Upper House

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on November 10 held a press conference in the Diet building and expressed his strong protest against the steamrolling through of TPP bills, saying, “Our party will do its utmost to scrap the bills by demanding thorough deliberations in the House of Councilors.”

The ruling parties earlier on this day forcibly held a plenary session of the House of Representatives and railroaded through the TPP approval bill and other related bills.

Opposition parties have repeatedly demanded reconsideration of Japan’s participation in the TPP as well as accountability from Agriculture Minister Yamamoto Yuji for his remarks implying an upcoming “steamroller vote”. Shii criticized the ruling coalition by saying, “They completely disregarded these demands and abused their majority position in the Diet.”

Reportedly, the U.S. Congress will not approve the TPP within this year as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has been calling for the country’s withdrawal from the free-trade framework.

Pointing to such media reports, Shii said, “It was incredibly absurd for Japan to have taken a vote on the pact without taking into careful consideration the U.S. position.”

He continued to say, “This trade-liberalization agreement eliminates tariff and non-tariff barriers. In addition, it has a mechanism that enables multinational corporations or investors to sue governments. Such a pact will do more harm than good. So, in Upper House discussions, the JCP will reveal more detailed information in regard to the real problems of this accord.”

Past related articles:
> 4 opposition parties agree to force Agriculture Minister to resign [October 21, 2016]
> Agriculture Minister’s ‘forcible passage of TPP’ remark denies Diet role [October 20, 2016]