Friday, March 15, 2013

Japan to seek TPP seat




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.