Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday sought the support of New Komeito, the Liberal Democratic Party's coalition partner, regarding Japan's participation in Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks.

During a meeting with Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, Abe explained that he and U.S. President Barack Obama had confirmed that eliminating all tariffs would not be a precondition for joining the TPP talks at their meeting in Washington on Friday.

Yamaguchi responded that he would study the issue with his colleagues. Komeito is set to discuss joining the TPP at a meeting of party executives on Tuesday, informed sources said.

Abe told Yamaguchi it was "of great significance" that he and Obama clarified that abolishing all tariffs was not a prerequisite to joining the talks in a joint statement issued after the bilateral summit.

LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba and Komeito Secretary General Yoshihisa Inoue were also present at the Abe-Yamaguchi meeting, which was held according to a Komeito request made prior to the prime minister's U.S. trip.

Earlier Monday, Abe also held talks with Ishiba on the TPP issue.

Abe reportedly told Ishiba he would "carefully handle" the matter, noting that he was aware of the "various opinions" on the subject within the ruling party.

Still, Abe said he aimed to obtain the LDP's understanding of his intent to make his own decision.

At a press conference Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government is solely responsible for deciding Japan's participation in the TPP negotiations, suggesting it sees no need to gain approval from the LDP's decision-making General Council.

Asked if the government will announce its decision on joining the talks this week, Suga said, "We'll likely do so if we decide to participate in the negotiations."

Suga went on to note that the government will continue examining various factors.

Many LDP members remain opposed to joining the TPP talks.

In its campaign platform for December's general election, the LDP pledged it would oppose participating in the talks if they required blanket tariff elimination.

Abe hopes to win the understanding of LDP opponents by explaining that there may be exceptions to abolishing tariffs for some products, such as rice, depending on the negotiations, as indicated in his joint statement with Obama, sources said.

February 25, 2013

Source: Yomiuri

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