Kan instructs Cabinet to accelerate work on joining TPP+

TOKYO, Oct. 24 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Naoto Kan instructed members of his Cabinet on Sunday to
accelerate preparatory work within the government for Japan to join a
U.S.-backed multilateral trans-Pacific free trade agreement, officials said.
''Preserving Japan's agriculture and its landscape over the next 10 years can
be consistent with my Cabinet's tenet of opening up this country,'' Kan told a
meeting attended by all Cabinet members at his official residence, they said.
While most ministers expressed positive opinions about Japan's participation in
the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, farm minister Michihiko Kano was
reluctant, citing the need to maintain food security.
The Cabinet is set to adopt shortly its basic policy on free trade agreements
ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in Yokohama on Nov.
13 and 14, with an eye to including in the policy wording that would express
Tokyo's intention to join TPP negotiations.
At the same time, the policy is also expected to refer to the need to protect
the country's agricultural sector.
Sunday's Cabinet discussion was partially designed to bridge differences within
the government and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan over Japan's
participation in the TPP, with some legislators expressing anxiety that it
could deal a serious blow to domestic farmers.
The meeting was also attended by DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada and Yoshio
Hachiro, chairman of the party's Diet affairs committee.
The TPP in principle requires its member states to eliminate all tariffs.
According to an estimate by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries, domestic agricultural output would dive by 4.1 trillion yen if Japan
totally removes tariffs on farm products in line with TPP arrangements.
Kan said in his policy speech on Oct. 1 that the government would ''look into
participating'' in TPP negotiations, arousing controversy among some DPJ
lawmakers.
==Kyodo
2010-10-24 22:31:10