Japan to protect key products in TPP talks
01/04/2013 46
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Japan's agriculture minister says the government will protect the country's key farm products from all tariff cuts in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi made the remark on an NHK TV debate program on Sunday.
Hayashi was speaking about the US-led negotiations that Japan intends to join. The free-trade framework now involves 11 Asia-Pacific nations.
Hayashi said Japan would be the second largest participant and the government can postpone a conclusion if it determines that more discussions are necessary.
Hayashi also said he heard that market access rules, including tariff cuts, have yet to be drawn up. He added that Japan could leave the negotiating table if it is only given the option of accepting what has already been decided.
The government earlier released an estimate that the production volume of the country's agricultural and marine products will decline by over 31 billion dollars if Japan joins the free-trade framework.
The governing Liberal Democratic Party has adopted a resolution that Japan should protect 5 key farm products from tariff cuts.
March 31, 2013
Source: NHK World
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