Japan, EU to launch free trade talks

Politics Mar. 04, 2013 - 06:46AM JST ( 6 )

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6 Comments

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vollandMar. 04, 2013 - 09:40AM JST

In times like these it is all about protectionism. Only fools can expect major decisions. There will be a few tiny deals, which at least can be sold to the ignorant public.... All Japan has for sale are better cars, and the germans certainly will not want any more competition for their own industry. They have an election coming up and half the government is busy fiddling with the unemployment numbers. So damaging the only product that they have to sell would be really stupid.
-4

basroilMar. 04, 2013 - 04:25PM JST

vollandMar. 04, 2013 - 09:40AM JST

In times like these it is all about protectionism.

Yup, that's why Japan is courting Europe, knowing that it's a very one sided "free" trade situation, since Europe has no food for Japan (all is above radiation limits or heavy metals limits for food) or raw materials (practically no mines left of any use, even less fuel), and Japan has plenty of things to sell including cars and electronics.

If Japan actually wanted to do a mutually beneficial free trade agreement, they should join TPP and give their own people lower food prices (for meats, cheese, and western produce like tomatoes) as well as letting their corporations sell products for more profit (assuming no price change is made). Japanese farmers always screw over everyone else despite the known fact that their livelihoods will not be affected at all (unless they farm western foods in areas where it's not meant to be farmed, and those guys need to go out of business for the good of the environment and government subsidies).
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falseflagsteveMar. 04, 2013 - 05:19PM JST

Anyone who thinks that Europe has no food for Japan is ignorant of the facts. Free trade is a bad idea anyway whoever it is with as history has shown.
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basroilMar. 04, 2013 - 06:54PM JST

falseflagsteveMar. 04, 2013 - 05:19PM JST

Anyone who thinks that Europe has no food for Japan is ignorant of the facts

Just last year they discovered meat with 1500Bq/kg of CS137, which is 15x the legal limit in Japan. While there are some products that would be legal to sell, it would take one well placed propaganda article to prevent a vast majority of people from buying the goods (and the above is an example they would likely use). Anyone that thinks that propaganda won't play a role is ignorant of the facts.
1

vollandMar. 05, 2013 - 07:07AM JST

"If Japan actually wanted to do a mutually beneficial free trade agreement, they should join TPP and give their own people lower food prices (for meats, cheese, and western produce like tomatoes) as well as letting their corporations sell products for more profit (assuming no price change is made)." Of course you are right, but governmental attitudes like that have a problem even in a democracy with at least what is nowadays called peole's representation. In Japan that is correctly called a foreign thought. You probably saw that my comment had actually been censored as soon as someone had read it, so this will be my last one. Take care in this wilderness, for me this is a waste of time....
0

Kyle AlpertMar. 08, 2013 - 10:31AM JST

Free trade between Japan and EU is a better deal for the EU, than free trade with the US. Japanese consumers will better appreciate the premium quality goods produced by the Germanic/Scandinavian countries as well as the premium fermented foods and alcohol produced by the French & Italians. This deal would be 100% synergy for both sides, as there is minimal overlap with respect to quality goods/foods. Only low quality producers like the US, China, and E.Europe will be damaged, but then they can always just sell poison and mislabeled foods to each other.