Japan's general election and the TPP

Whether or not Japan should participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations is one of the most contested issues among political parties in the lower house election, which will take place on 16 December.

For farmers and the agricultural cooperative organisation (JA), the TPP is the key issue. JA has made opposition to the TPP a condition of its backing candidates and parties in the election. The National Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (JA-Zenchu) has said that it will 'support candidates and parties that have made clear their opposition to the TPP negotiations'.

Prime Minister Noda stands at the opposite end of the spectrum. He originally stipulated that Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) endorsement was conditional on candidates following the party line on the TPP and consumption tax. Prospective DPJ candidates were required to sign an application for endorsement that contained a pledge to support party policies, although the application did not actually mention the TPP.

According to JA, Noda capitulated to pressure from Japan's business community and the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo), the DPJ's biggest support group. Rengo will not recommend candidates who oppose the TPP.

The DPJ's formal position on the TPP, which was finally revealed in its election manifesto, however, does not clearly announce a policy of participating in the TPP negotiations, instead stating that the party will simultaneously advance the TPP, the Japan-China-South Korea FTA and the ASEAN-based Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. But, in a major concession to the 'cautious faction' of the party, this commitment is qualified by the addition of the words 'and the government will decide'. This means that any DPJ administration will reserve the right to make a political decision at the time - in short, a continuation of the status quo. Given the divisions in the party and the current cabinet, there were concerns that the party would be thrown into turmoil if it clearly set forth a policy of participating in the TPP negotiations.

The party predicted to lead the next administration - the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) - is opposed to joining the TPP negotiations as long as they are premised on tariff abolition without exceptions. However, LDP leader Shinzo Abe has confidently claimed that the 'LDP has sufficient negotiating power to break through tariff abolition without exceptions', hinting at the possibility of participating in the negotiations once he comes to power. The LDP has also set other conditions for participating in the TPP negotiations.

In fact, the LDP is as divided on the TPP as the DPJ. Some LDP members are strong TPP advocates, while agriculture-affiliated Diet members are firmly opposed. The LDP laid down tough conditions for participating because the anti-TPP group worked together with non-committal members to raise the various problems associated with the TPP.

December 6, 2012

Source: News on Japan