ID :
148539
Wed, 11/03/2010 - 08:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/148539
The shortlink copeid
DPJ panel floats idea to join preliminary talks for Pacific FTA+
TOKYO, Nov. 2 Kyodo - A ruling party panel discussed Tuesday the idea that Japan start prior consultations with countries negotiating a U.S.-backed trans-Pacific free trade agreement, as the government plans to adopt its basic policy on the pact and other free trade issues a week later.
The idea, in a rough draft proposal being arranged by a project team of the
ruling Democratic Party of Japan, is intended for Tokyo to ''gather
information'' so it can decide whether it should join the negotiations
currently involving nine countries, a DPJ lawmaker said.
Team members decided, however, to continue discussions on the wording of the
draft, the lawmaker said, amid concerns among DPJ lawmakers that the
Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement may deal a blow to Japan's highly protected
farm sector.
They aim to finalize the proposal on Thursday for submission to Friday's
meeting of Cabinet members relevant to the matter, he said.
While noting that joining the negotiations would mean that the country would
have to declare that it will basically eliminate all tariffs, the draft also
referred to the need to ''seriously pursue'' the possibility of setting
exceptions, apparently keeping in mind sensitive agricultural products such as
rice.
The issue of whether Japan should join the TPP negotiations has recently
emerged in domestic discussions ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
forum summit to be held in Yokohama on Nov. 13 and 14.
Leaders of the 21 member economies are expected to discuss their long-term goal
of creating a region-wide free trade area, while the TPP is regarded as a
potential key framework that could lead to its realization.
The outcome of the DPJ team's discussions is expected to be reflected in the
government's basic policy on FTA issues, which national policy minister
Koichiro Gemba said the same day will be endorsed at a Cabinet meeting on Nov.
9.
Prior to the Cabinet meeting, relevant ministers will meet Friday to fine-tune
their positions on the matter, Gemba told a news conference.
The TPP negotiations, which have been built on a regional FTA that took effect
in 2006 among Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore, are under way between
the four nations and five other countries -- the United States, Australia,
Vietnam, Malaysia and Peru.
The draft stipulates three stages Japan is likely to undergo to officially join
the TPP framework, starting from the ''prior consultations,'' a process that
would enable Japan to decide whether it should join the TPP negotiations. Japan
would also have to seek approval from all nine countries during the
consultation process to participate.
Japan will then enter into full-scale negotiations, which would involve final
talks on setting conditions for joining the agreement, and will be able to join
the TPP after parliamentary approval.
Citing the three-stage process, the draft said, ''We will propose that (the
government) start the first stage of prior consultations to gather information
and to understand the current situation of each related country at the APEC
summit meeting.''
But during the project team session to discuss APEC and FTA issues, some
lawmakers expressed concerns that starting prior consultations may pave the way
toward beginning actual negotiations.
Many DPJ lawmakers have called for ''cautious consideration'' over the TPP
issue out of concern that Japanese farmers may suffer a blow because of an
expected influx of cheaper agricultural products.
Japanese government officials have said that Japan may also be urged to settle
some bilateral concerns with the TPP negotiating countries, especially with the
United States, in the process of seeking approval from them over Tokyo's
participation.
On those bilateral issues such as Washington's demand that Tokyo relax its
restrictions on U.S. beef imports, the draft said Japan may be urged to show
its ''preparedness'' to settle them.
Cabinet ministers are also divided over the TPP issue. Finance Minister
Yoshihiko Noda feels positively about opening up Japan to trade, but Economy,
Trade and Industry Minister Akihiro Ohata is seeking careful discussions.
==Kyodo
The idea, in a rough draft proposal being arranged by a project team of the
ruling Democratic Party of Japan, is intended for Tokyo to ''gather
information'' so it can decide whether it should join the negotiations
currently involving nine countries, a DPJ lawmaker said.
Team members decided, however, to continue discussions on the wording of the
draft, the lawmaker said, amid concerns among DPJ lawmakers that the
Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement may deal a blow to Japan's highly protected
farm sector.
They aim to finalize the proposal on Thursday for submission to Friday's
meeting of Cabinet members relevant to the matter, he said.
While noting that joining the negotiations would mean that the country would
have to declare that it will basically eliminate all tariffs, the draft also
referred to the need to ''seriously pursue'' the possibility of setting
exceptions, apparently keeping in mind sensitive agricultural products such as
rice.
The issue of whether Japan should join the TPP negotiations has recently
emerged in domestic discussions ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
forum summit to be held in Yokohama on Nov. 13 and 14.
Leaders of the 21 member economies are expected to discuss their long-term goal
of creating a region-wide free trade area, while the TPP is regarded as a
potential key framework that could lead to its realization.
The outcome of the DPJ team's discussions is expected to be reflected in the
government's basic policy on FTA issues, which national policy minister
Koichiro Gemba said the same day will be endorsed at a Cabinet meeting on Nov.
9.
Prior to the Cabinet meeting, relevant ministers will meet Friday to fine-tune
their positions on the matter, Gemba told a news conference.
The TPP negotiations, which have been built on a regional FTA that took effect
in 2006 among Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore, are under way between
the four nations and five other countries -- the United States, Australia,
Vietnam, Malaysia and Peru.
The draft stipulates three stages Japan is likely to undergo to officially join
the TPP framework, starting from the ''prior consultations,'' a process that
would enable Japan to decide whether it should join the TPP negotiations. Japan
would also have to seek approval from all nine countries during the
consultation process to participate.
Japan will then enter into full-scale negotiations, which would involve final
talks on setting conditions for joining the agreement, and will be able to join
the TPP after parliamentary approval.
Citing the three-stage process, the draft said, ''We will propose that (the
government) start the first stage of prior consultations to gather information
and to understand the current situation of each related country at the APEC
summit meeting.''
But during the project team session to discuss APEC and FTA issues, some
lawmakers expressed concerns that starting prior consultations may pave the way
toward beginning actual negotiations.
Many DPJ lawmakers have called for ''cautious consideration'' over the TPP
issue out of concern that Japanese farmers may suffer a blow because of an
expected influx of cheaper agricultural products.
Japanese government officials have said that Japan may also be urged to settle
some bilateral concerns with the TPP negotiating countries, especially with the
United States, in the process of seeking approval from them over Tokyo's
participation.
On those bilateral issues such as Washington's demand that Tokyo relax its
restrictions on U.S. beef imports, the draft said Japan may be urged to show
its ''preparedness'' to settle them.
Cabinet ministers are also divided over the TPP issue. Finance Minister
Yoshihiko Noda feels positively about opening up Japan to trade, but Economy,
Trade and Industry Minister Akihiro Ohata is seeking careful discussions.
==Kyodo
