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The Japanese government this week launched a 50-member team to pave the way for the nation's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks.
Since Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announced last month that Japan Japan would participate in talks on joining the U.S.-backed TPP, he has been criticized by opponents within his own party as well as opposition parties for his vague statements on the issue.
Big exporters say that joining the trade bloc would allow Japan greater access to foreign markets, which would allay concerns that Japan is falling behind regional rivals such as South Korea in trade liberalization.
Farmers who would oppose opening up to foreign competition -- agricultural products are protected by tariffs as high as 800% -- have a powerful lobby in Japan's parliament.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said the 50-member team will be divided into three groups, NHK reported. One will start preparatory negotiations with the nine TPP partners. The second group will serve as a liaison body between the government and industry organizations, while the third group has the task of disseminating all the relevant information to the public.
Noda favors joining the TPP. "Japan must tap into the Asia-Pacific region's growth in order to pass on our prosperity, which we have built as a trading nation, to the next generation," he said.
The U.S., Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Peru are currently negotiating to join the bloc, which already brings together the smaller economies of Chile, New Zealand, Brunei and Singapore.
© Japan Today
10 Comments
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MaboDofuIsSpicy
50? Dang, they will never be able to make a decision.
plasticmonkey
The decision has already been made, like it or not.
globalwatcher
Agreed, Mabo. It is gonna be a "bunga, bunga".
ExportExpert
50 people to do what ? Prepare for talks !
Another waste of public money, one person with an assistant could prepare for the talks simply by gargling in the morning of the talks and passing the glass back to the assistant. TOO MUCH B.S. with these people.
Cricky
A meeting about the meeting to talk about the meeting that will discuss issues about the meeting that precursor the Pre meeting talks that need to be clarified before meeting that is to finalize the joint statement to emerge from the meeting, including talks and meetings with parties that have vested interestets to insure a uniited front that requires meetings to ensure that ......
Oh the world has moved on!
The_True
people in that room is going to die with all the teeth sucking, is not going to be much oxygen for everyone!
MaboDofuIsSpicy
The_True
There will also be a lot of people sleeping with their eyes open, and hands locked together in front of them on the table.
And a bottle of tea next to each person left un-touched. Sort of like food at a Japanese wedding.
ExRand
gonemad
And where is the team on agricultural reforms?
gaijinfo
Yea, that's kind the point. I don't think Japan has any intention of actually joining the TPP. In fact, the states didn't want Japan to join the talks in the first place, because they knew all they would do is clutter up the discussion with all kinds of inane requests for special privileges.
Noda probably thinks he's being shrewd by sending such a large team that has no chance of getting anything done, thereby pleasing everybody.