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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014.Japan, U.S. remain apart in trade talks, dealing blow for TPP
By Krista Hughes WASHINGTON©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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Kazuaki Shimazaki
This is quite an uninformative article, choosing to report on the fluff that the Foreign Minister threw out. They should have summarized both sides position.
Sherman
Japan flexible.....that is a joke. They are wasting every other countries time with all this BS.
Disillusioned
Japan needs the TPP more than the TPP needs Japan. If Japan continues to procrastinate and try to create loopholes they should be shut out of the agreement altogether and left to rot in their poop.
smithinjapan
"“Japan made a flexible proposal, but we weren’t able to make further progress,”
BS. Their 'flexible' proposal was no doubt, "Please understand", and "please cooperate or it will be regrettable" while promising the outdated farm sector here that they would still give them heaps of money to insufficiently support the nation and screw customers who might opt for cheaper goods by keeping tariffs on rice and other key agricultural items.
Forget about Japan. When they move to fourth and then fifth economy in the world in the not too distant future they'll scramble to hope in as the smart nations did long before and Japan left itself in the dust.
sangetsu03
Except for the fact that there was a charter made for TPP, and it was quite simple in it's text: "all tariffs to be abolished by 2015." Had Japan not butted-in and asked to be made a part of the treaty (and several other countries expressed revervations about Japan being invited), the treaty would have been concluded two years ago, and in effect now.
I guess they are not aware that JA (the Japan farm lobby) already buys most of it's fertilizer, insecticide, and seeds from America? And that JA is the exclusive supplier of these products to Japanese farmers? JA has a nice racket, they supply Japanese farmers with seeds, fertilizers, and insecticides, and are also the main distributors of the crops. The farmers might do a little better without the big middleman which collects his fees bith ways.
What would you lose? I suppose seeing your grocery bill drop by a third or so might be a big loss. I suppose seeing foreign conpanies being able to sue in Japan to remedy the price-fixing problem which is so rampant here (and is tolerated because the amakudari system gives regulators part of the graft) would be a big loss. I guess seeing the Japanese conglomerates and their friends in the government bureaucracy lose their chokehold on Japanese consumers would be a big loss?
Of all the countries in TPP, none needs it as badly as Japan. If Abe were to get Japan into TPP unconditionally, it would be the greatest accomplishment of his term, and might save his legacy. If things continue as they are, Abe will be regarded as one of Japan's greatest disappointments.
Fadamor
As an American, I don't see the U.S. dropping tariffs. The Sugar industry is a perfect example. South American sugar growers have been complaining for decades about the stiff tariffs protecting the U.S. sugar producers. Think about all the things sugar goes into and you'll quickly see that cheaper sugar results in cheaper products made with sugar. This doesn't sway Congress, though, and they would rather prop-up a small industry that can't compete globally.
GW
agreed this blurb is less then useless! Says absolutely NOTHING!
Fadamor
They CAN'T do that because the TPP negotiations are - for all practical purposes - secret. If you want a summary, though, here's the summary of each country's (not just Japan and the U.S.'s) position in a nutshell:
We want the agreement to benefit our economy the most regardless of how it affects other countries.tokyodoumo
NOT Flexible enough...There is no way getting around it, ABE must give up tarriffs on the protected farm goods in order to make TPP work and Japan needs it more than ever when we are in rows with China.
tinawatanabe
sangetsu, The Japanese news today said that US said "NO!" to Japan about dropping US tarriff on Japan's car. Do you listen to Japanese news? Why is your information always far from reality?
jerseyboy
That's diplomatic speak for saying that Japan isn't willing to play by the rules -- zero tariffs and everything on the table.
Which, as smith says, is diplomatic speak for Japan saying "we want to be treated differently", because we really didn't mean it when we said we'd play by the rules.
Time to kick Japan to the curb and move on.
Fadamor
The whole POINT of the TPP is to eliminate MOST (not all) tariffs between member nations. As long as a country insists on maintaining a large set of tariffs, they aren't going to be allowed to join the trade pact.
sangetsu03
Nonsense. One of the causes of the American revolution was England's tariffs and stamp taxes on imported and exported goods. Anyone remember the "Boston Tea Party?"
I agree there is a "corporate dictatorship" to overcome, but it is not transnational, it is Japanese. It controls everything and everyone in Japan. It controls the minimum prices you pay for food, cars, electronics items, and movie tickets. It controls the people by supporting an education and university system which graduates "drones", who receive little useful knowledge, and where criticism and debate are unkown vocabulary. It is intertwined with the government bureaucracy, which passes laws to protect the dictatorship, and refuses to enforce any laws which threaten it.
In developed countries, the people are supposed to be the sovereign power, not an elite group of executives and bureaucrats who abuse their people and their power for personal pride or profit. No corporation or company in Europe or America has anywhere near as much control over their country, people, and governmmet as Japan Inc. has over Japan.
sangetsu03
And pigs will fly, and hell will freeze over. Japan's interest in TPP may have been only to sabotage the treaty, without ever seriously considering joining it. They have managed to delay it by two years already, if they could, they would go on for a few more years. This is an incredibly "Japanese" way of doing things. The word "no" is never used, but they often use the word "we'll think about it," which means "no."
The bureaucracy and it's cronies are xenophobic and still ambitious, despite their advanced age. They will not allow control of the national economy out of their hands if they can help it.
Seiharinokaze
In a figurative sense in comparison with the Tea Act, the colonists are Japanese and British Parliament is US Congress which accord every facility to the present day Company such as Cargill and AIG. Actually they are mightier than the government and the colonists might oppose the TPP even though it may reduce consumer prices, as it legitimizes the Company's ability to rule the market.
souka
as long as japan already signed a number of trade deals, this one may needs time, but thinking that TPP is a bad deal and that they should just find excuses to perhaps ignore it,,maybe it will be better as well to decline rather than holding the breath of this new architecture to move forward..
Cricky
Japan and USA should get out and let serious countries get it together.
BertieWooster
I'm so glad to hear this.
TPP would be a win for a few US shareholders and a big LOSE for everybody else.
sangetsu03
The treaty as it is written is not to reduce most tariffs, as it is written, it's goal is to eventually eliminate all tariffs.
The rest is true. The sugar lobby you mentioned is strong in two states, Florida and Hawaii. Florida is a mainly republican state, and though the sugar producers do have power, republicans will pass TPP if they think it is good for business. Also, much of Florida's agricultural sector produces things other than sugar, they will probably support TPP. Hawaii is a mainly democrat state, but has a small population, with less representatives in congress. They will oppose TPP, but their opposition will be less strong.
The more populous states which are the indusrtrial centers will side with TPP if there really are zero tariffs. If Japan receives any exceptions, these states will not likely ratify the treaty. Japan has a long history with America's "rust belt", and it is not pleasant.
Michael Craig
I agree! The TPP is not even a bona-fide free-trade agreement, but a transnational corporate dictatorship from what I've heard! Not only is it dangerous to sovereign nations, but it's also HIGH TREASON and an affront to God !!
(No one should serve two masters. For they shall hate one and love the other, or otherwise hold to one and despise the other. You can't serve both God and Money. - St. Matthew 6:24 )
When they were first elected, then entered their respective offfices, the leaders of the participating countries (including President Obama) swore to uphold the Constution and laws of their countries.
The TPP would eschew the nations' Constitutional laws and trump the authorities of their heads of State and Government!
EthanWilber
Apparently, Obama has set a deadline for Japan to Join TPP; that is, by the end of Nov. 2014. If Japan still no intention to put real efforts into the negotiation, then the US may move on without Japan.
Hopefully, Japan would take these two months of time to find a way to Keep the negotiation alive (dropping the childish procrastination once for all).
StormR
Quick to blame Japan for the failure to strike a deal but in reality the problem lies much in USA side
Moderator: The URL will suffice.
Papi2013
Just kick Japan off the negotiating table, and let's just move on already. That train left the terminal yesterday.
nigelboy
Not this joker again. You and your boss doesn't have any decision making power. You're powerless which makes your comments irrelevant.
MikeAnderson
smithinjapan forget about that both lefties and righties the only thing that they agree about is hating america
If you care about reading their several blogs , housoujoku, ch2 etc you will notice that ehm
the lefties disagree because of radiation contamination and the RT mass media about monsanto ,some japanese preferred to grow their own crops , also they remember america as a bad guy who introduced the nuclear energy they are labelled in japanese society as communist but as you know communist hates america
the righties while they remember their defeat and humiliation , they swear god that the us farmer won't get a penny because they consider them as war criminals who cooperated with china
the conflict mentality is very deep , It isn't about nationalism ideal at all
MikeAnderson
No cricky japan should be given a maximum amount of time to convince public ,abe is doing great all of you seem to having abe phobia syndrome , I suggest he should be given some time to convince the people about the change in global trend , don't forget that the stupid bush mistake need a time recovery economically and in terms of global credit