Japan will apply to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade
talks talks, says Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
But farm organizations are opposed.
Abe says the Japanese economy is stalled, so the country
needs to get into the trade negotiations.
Canada joined late and at the same time opened direct trade
negotiations with Japan.
Canada’s supply-managed dairy and poultry farmers, who also
oppose any concessions in trade negotiations, will be pleased to have Japan and
its farmers involved in the negotiations.
On the other hand, the others already in the trade
negotiations may be reluctant to let Japan join because it will further
complicate the negotiations, perhaps to the point of a stalemate as has
happened with the world trade negotiations that began more than 10 years ago.
Canada’s direct negotiations with Europe are also faltering
as several deadlines have passed and farmers who oppose concessions are also
one of the key stumbling blocks.
