TOKYO —Japan will not make any announcement on joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum to be held in Vladivostok on Sept 8-9.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told reporters that Prime minister Yoshihiko Noda would not address the issue in talks with other leaders, TV Asahi reported. He said that there are still several points of contention that have to be addressed.

Noda first signaled his support for Japan to join the TPP framework in talks with U.S. President Barack Obama at last year’s APEC summit, but got into trouble back home and had to quickly backtrack, saying his remarks had been misreported. 

Obama has voiced support for Japan joining talks with the United States and eight other countries in the fast-growing Asia Pacific region, but many members of Congress are wary about allowing Japan, the world’s third largest economy, into the negotiations.

They have demanded stronger evidence that Tokyo is ready to open its market to more U.S. exports in sectors ranging from agriculture to autos.

The United States hopes to finish talks with Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Chile, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei on the TPP pact by the end of the year.

The countries say they are aiming for a “21st Century” agreement that goes further than previous trade pacts in tearing down barriers to trade and raising international standards in areas like labor and environment.

August 30, 2012

Source: Japan Today

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