Japan's Abe: Farm industry won't be sacrificed for TPP

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has vowed that he will not sacrifice Japan's agriculture to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade talks.

Abe was speaking at a debate on this fiscal year's supplementary budget bill in the Upper House Budget Committee on Tuesday.

Upper House member Toshio Yamada told the session that Japan's automobile industry has a wide range of related industries and could offer many jobs.

He said, however, that in exchange for protecting the car industry by joining the multinational free trade agreement, farming industry should not be sacrificed.

Abe agreed with Yamada's view, saying he believes farming is a fundamental industry for Japan and he will consider how to handle the TPP negotiations with this in mind.

The prime minster added that he will do his best to protect Japan's national interest at his meeting with US President Barack Obama scheduled for later this week.

Meanwhile, lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party opposed to joining the TPP talks have submitted to the government a resolution that includes items that should be exempted from the abolition of tariffs.

About 100 lawmakers attended a meeting to compile the resolution Tuesday.

The resolution cited rice, wheat, beef, dairy products and sugar as items that should be made exempt from the tariffs abolition.

It also said that the participation of for-profit businesses in the management of medical institutions should not be allowed.

The resolution added it strongly hopes that the Japan-US summit later this week will reflect Japan's national interest.

February 19, 2013

Source: NHK