Japan's main governing party is expected to take time before deciding whether to participate in negotiations on a free-trade agreement, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba says the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, will be one of the issues in the next upper house election scheduled for July.

LDP legislators are split on the issue. Some are positive about joining TPP negotiations, but others strongly oppose the idea. They argue that the removal of tariffs on agricultural products would deal a serious blow to Japanese farmers.

The party's Policy Research Council is to discuss the impact of joining free-trade talks. It will discuss the repercussions on the Japanese economy, as well as the agricultural, healthcare, financial and insurance sectors.

The LDP's council on diplomacy and economic partnerships will then begin discussing the matter.

Back in December, the Liberal Democrats campaigned in the lower house election by opposing Japan's participation in TPP negotiations as long as removing all tariffs remained a precondition. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has indicated that Japan could join the talks if tariff exceptions are allowed through prior consultations.

The United States and 10 other countries are already participating in the negotiations.

January 14, 2013

Source: NHK