Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2015 June 24 - 30 TOP3 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

UN experts: TPP will have adverse impact on human rights

Quoting a statement of a group of UN experts expressing concern about “the potential detrimental impact” of free trade on “the enjoyment of human rights”, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Hatayama Kazuya on June 25 demanded that Japan pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement which is now under negotiation.

The group of UN experts covering a wide range of areas issued the statement on June 2, voicing concern that a number of free trade and investment agreements such as the TPP are likely to have “retrogressive effects on the protection and promotion of human rights, including by lowering the threshold of health protection, food safety, and labor standards”. They recommended, “All draft treaty texts should be published”.

To Hatayama who said, “The need for disclosure of TPP-related information was suggested,” a Cabinet Secretariat official replied, “If a general consensus is reached (at the TPP talks), we will explain the details of the agreement.”

Hatayama, however, said that it will be too late after the agreement is concluded and demanded that Japan listen to the experts’ suggestion by saying, “It is important that the statement points out that free trade deals may have an adverse impact on human rights.”

* * *

Following the enactment of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation in the U.S. Senate, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on June 25 told reporters at the PM Office that he will take the lead “together with the United States in concluding the TPP negotiations as early as possible”.

Amari Akira, State Minister in charge of the TPP, said, “I hope Japan will sign the agreement after forming a consensus among 12 countries in July.”

However, the TPA giving U.S. President Barack Obama fast-track authority to negotiate trade deals does not automatically lead to reaching an agreement on the TPP.

The nature of the TPP, which pursues business interests at the cost of the public interest, is becoming increasingly clear. In addition, the TPP talks being held in secret behind closed doors are provoking widespread anger among the general public.

Even in the United States, which proclaims itself as the driving force behind the TPP deal, trade unions and civic organizations are increasing anti-TPP movements. Several city councils have adopted resolutions opposing the TPA and have lobbied against the TPP.

What determines the course of the TPP is not the TPA but the struggle in each country to protect people’s daily lives from the tyranny of large multinational corporations.

Past related articles:
> Concerns over TPP negotiations on generic drugs mounting worldwide [June 18, 2015]
> Public opposition growing in the world against TPP [January 14, 2015]
> Not TPP but equality and mutual benefits are necessary [February 27-March1, 2014]
> JCP Kami: US will further press Japan to lower tariffs in TPP talks [February 8, 2014]
> JCP Yamashita demands withdrawal from TPP free trade talks [January 31, 2014]