Sunday May 27, 2012

Noda says Japan will enter discussions toward joining TPP talks

Politics ( 38 )

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Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda speaks during a press conference at his official residence in Tokyo on Friday night. At left is a sign language interpreter. AP

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  • 0

    Foxie

    Participating in talks doesn't mean anything. Japan is very careful again.

  • -1

    BlueWitch

    Whatever helps this sinking country stay afloat.....

  • 2

    marcelito

    This TPP announcement is going to make Kamei,s hair stand up even more than normal.

  • 2

    Yubaru

    I give Noda credit for making a very difficult but right decision. It's a start in the right direction!

  • 0

    T_rexmaxytime

    It's all about negotiation though.

  • 1

    Lunchbox

    One step in the right direction. Noda has shown that he has the brains to realize that the future of the consumer electronics export industry is much more important than the farmers. Bad news for the farmers who we all no work very hard, but the future of the nation's economy is much more important.

  • 1

    smithinjapan

    Noda is a little cleverer than a lot will give him credit for. He has agreed to take part in the TALKS, satisfying the elements in favour of the TPP. However, that does not in any way mean he will agree to join the TPP, and in refusing (if he does) would come out looking much better for having shown a willingness to discuss it in the first place.

    This will anger the people who cannot see that this is only a discussion and not a commitment to join, but whatever. Hopefully Japan does join, in the end. But methinks a decision on that is a LONG way away yet.

  • 1

    cwhite

    As long as it doesn't screw with the national health care system, insurance polices, financial institutions, food quality, etc, etc....

  • -1

    BurakuminDes

    As long as it doesn't screw with the national health care system, insurance polices, financial institutions, food quality, etc, etc....

    I hope it improves a few of those things. Namely, food quality. Maybe importing more foreign non-Cesium and Strontium contaminated foodstuffs will prompt Japan to up their game with regards to food quality and standards. You can't beat competition as a tool to get people to improve their game. Kudos to Mr Noda - but a looooong way to go - and these ancient farm geezers aint gonna go quietly. A bit of urban terrorism and/or self-immolation from them in protest would not shock me!

  • 1

    Terry Tibbs

    I applaud Mr. Noda wholeheartedly not for just for simply joining the talk, but for getting up of his backside and doing what great leaders do by taking solid action, not just voicing a smoke-sheild array of promises without moving of his perch. This man takes the pie out the sky and eats it. He talks the talk and actually walks the walk. Regardless of the outcome of these talks and those who oppose his decision to enter them, you have to acknowledge and applaud the man for putting his thoughts into motion ultimately showing he is at least making an effort to turn the economic situation around for the better.

  • -6

    herefornow

    “We will defend what we must protect, and try to win what we should gain.”

    No you won't, Noda. Or did you miss the recent comments in the U.S. that Japan won't be setting the rules of TPP? Japan is late getting into these talks, and the other countries are going to demand that Japan agree to certain principles before even allowing them to join the talks. I applaud him at least taking this step, but allowing expectations to continue in Japan that it can dictate/bully terms of FTA's is just wrong. For the upteenth time I'll repeat that Japan needs to wake up and smell the coffee and realize they need international trading partners now more than the partners need Japan. Japan is certainly still attractive, no doubt. But not so much that they're going to make tons of concessions to include them.

  • 1

    Dotobock

    Namely, food quality. Maybe importing more foreign non-Cesium and Strontium contaminated foodstuffs will prompt Japan to up their game with regards to food quality and standards. You can't beat competition as a tool to get people to improve their game.

    Not if TPP means to allow import which is banned as food for humans. Anyone that says, 'Oh, we know that this is perfectly safe,' is either unbelievably stupid or deliberately lying. The reality is we don’t know. This is why Japan has laws unlike U.S.A. If TPP means that Japan must obey American laws, Japan is much better off scrapping this agreement. If U.S.A impose it's laws on Japan namely to give the green light on any G.M food and then to not impose labeling laws in order to keep the consumer in the dark whether it is GM or not, U.S.A can forget about a Japan membership. Japan will not agree to scrap the right for people living in Japan to have a right to know what's in their food or what has been done to it. Why Americans do not demand the same rights is mind boggling.

  • 1

    Fadamor

    No you won't, Noda. Or did you miss the recent comments in the U.S. that Japan won't be setting the rules of TPP?

    Actually, yes he will. They've only agreed to join the talks, not sign the document. If Japan doesn't get what it wants out of the talks, then they can still walk without signing. It wouldn't seem to be a wise move from my point of view, but then I'm not privy to the details of what's been hammered-out so far or what Japan wants added/removed to the agreement.

  • 1

    shanabelle

    The TPP　simply looks like a win-win situation for the U.S..... I hope Japan stays out of it!

  • 0

    herefornow

    Fadamor -- sorry, but you need to do a little more homework. Months ago, before Tohoku, when Japan first started talking about joining TPP, it was made clear that all nine of the existing countries must approve Japan even entering the talks, since they are late to the game. And part of those discussions is Japan having to assure the other countries on certain issues, like truly opening up to imports, including agriculture. So, you are right, Japan can walk. But you are dead wrong if you think Japan is going to bully Australia or the U.S. into accepting Japan's terms. Those countries have managed to thrive for decades with a closed Japan, and can continue to do so. Plus they now have a growing China to focus on. But Japan would really be hurt if their exports to these countries was subject to higher tariffs than their competitors. Like I said, smell the coffee, Japan has little or no leverage.

  • -1

    Dotobock

    The American FDA is a Monsato puppet. Monsato is the largest company which has the biggest market share of the food market in U.S.A. All soya sold now is genetically modified so that they can use 'Round Up" on it without killing the crop.

  • 0

    moomoochoo

    @Dotobock Dude! It's not just about America and GMOs are already here.

  • 1

    Fadamor

    So, you are right, Japan can walk. But you are dead wrong if you think Japan is going to bully Australia or the U.S. into accepting Japan's terms.

    If I had actually stated - or even implied - that Japan was going to bully anybody regarding this issue then you would have a point. But I didn't, so you don't.

  • 0

    Dotobock

    @moomoochoo

    It is about the amount. The level of G.M.O and no, G.M.O soybeans is not here in Japan. It is illegal to grow G.M.O soybeans in Japan for human consumption and all G.M.O must be labeled unlike U.S.A. 70% of all natto, tofu and shoyu sold in Japan use American soybeans but the G.M.O trend is a causing a major headache. So much so that Japanese manufacturers of tofu, natto who are dependent on American soybeans are now looking elsewhere to purchase non G.M.O soybeans. There are ohter issues too. The use of chemicals for instance. There are many chemicals which are legal in U.S.A but not in Japan. The use of pecticides, chemical growth hormones used in cows. I cannot see how Japan can agree to some of the American laws here. I wish U.S.A would step up their level instead and take more precautions.

  • -1

    ubikwit

    fair enough, but it remains to be seen what can actually be hammered out among such a diverse group of countries.

    new zealand, for example, has an economy based on exporting agricultural products, but is also the least subsidized agricultural sector on the planet, and have been at odds with the usa--one of the biggest offenders--on farm subsidizes for many years. notice that i am not even touching on a japan specific issue here,

    so, if such negotiations can serve to bring some rationalization to aspects of domestic policy, such as farm subsidies--that affect international relations, then the agreement can serve a positive function overall that is greater than each country simply seeking to benefit its own economy, even if it comes at the unjust expense of another country.

  • 1

    zichi

    95% of the world's crop of soya beans are owned by American companies and all are GM.

  • 1

    nigelboy

    Not overly concerned about the GMO per se but the food safety in general is what should concern Japan. Despite what we hear about Japan's mislabeling of foods and what not, it pales to what is going on in U.S. in terms of consumer safety for the CDC estimates at least 5,000 people die from food poisoning while in Japan, there were 0 (ZERO) cases of food poisoning deaths.

  • 1

    BurakuminDes

    in Japan there were 0 (ZERO) cases of food poisoning deaths

    I take it those figures are a few years old? I seem to recall a few people dying here (sadly including one or two kids) this year due to food poisoning caused by eating - can you believe ? - raw beef. There were likely more but that's just from memory. I'm all for free-trade, more choices and lowest possible prices - but yeah - each government has a duty to test her own produce and that which is imported as much as possible.

  • 1

    Fadamor

    Nigelboy must have information the rest of us don't, or he's quoting total deaths due to food poisoning since records started being kept. According to the very same CDC that Nigel claims to be quoting, their food safety page lists the data for 2008 (the latest year for which data is available) and that data shows TWENTY-TWO deaths due to food poisoning. 22 <> 5,000.

    Care to explain the discrepancy, Nigelboy?

    Here's my source, where's yours?

    http://www.cdc.gov/features/dsFoodborneOutbreaks/

  • -1

    nigelboy

    I take it those figures are a few years old? I seem to recall a few people dying here (sadly including one or two kids) this year due to food poisoning caused by eating - can you believe ? - raw beef. There were likely more but that's just from memory. I'm all for free-trade, more choices and lowest possible prices - but yeah - each government has a duty to test her own produce and that which is imported as much as possible.

    It was last year. The year before that was zero. Then you get to numbers between 4~8 during 2003~2008. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/topics/syokuchu/04.html

    I'm glad that you mention that from "memory" because it was such a big deal in Japan due to the heavy press coverage. During the same time, nearly 30 people died in U.S. from rockmelon poisoning but these never got the same press coverage and government scrutinity that it received from their own country.

  • 0

    BurakuminDes

    @ Nigelboy - I'm not familiar with what goes on in the States to be perfectly honest - certainly not in regards to their food safety. Thanks for the link. I also recall many deaths in Germany this year too. Let's not use this as an impediment to free trade, however. As long as there are adequate safety standards and checks in the participating nations, let's all get behind the TPP and enjoy the benefits of variety of choice and cheaper prices! When it is all signed off and the Japanese have tasted the heaven that is Aussie tropical fruit (and they can finally afford it!) everyone will ask - Why didn't we do this years ago?!

  • -1

    issa1

    Obama say - Arigatou obaka- san!!! I won.

  • -1

    nigelboy

    Fadamor

    http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/5/5/99-0502_article.htm

    These are probably the estimates that CDC put down in 1999. I guess they improved somewhat since then

    http://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/index.html

  • 0

    nigelboy

    BurakuminDes

    Having more cheaper priced goods is not going to help Japan's economy because they stuck in a deflationary spiral.

    Economy bad-->Job security in doubt, lower wages--->less consumer spending---->economy worsens--->job security more in doubt, even lower wages--->lesser consumer spending--->repeat.

  • -1

    nigelboy

    Fadamor -- sorry, but you need to do a little more homework. Months ago, before Tohoku, when Japan first started talking about joining TPP, it was made clear that all nine of the existing countries must approve Japan even entering the talks, since they are late to the game. And part of those discussions is Japan having to assure the other countries on certain issues, like truly opening up to imports, including agriculture. So, you are right, Japan can walk. But you are dead wrong if you think Japan is going to bully Australia or the U.S. into accepting Japan's terms. Those countries have managed to thrive for decades with a closed Japan, and can continue to do so. Plus they now have a growing China to focus on. But Japan would really be hurt if their exports to these countries was subject to higher tariffs than their competitors. Like I said, smell the coffee, Japan has little or no leverage

    Agree with herefornow for a change. Those are some of the reasons why Japan shouldn't join in the first place since Japan has FTA or EPA with 6 of the nine participants.

    I thougt it was tacky for Noda to delay his announcement a day later when it's clearly apparent that he made up his mind long time ago. I guess starting his speech with "8 months since the quake" sounds more dramatic. Or giving the appearance that he was "seriously" weighing in the opposition's opinions.

  • 1

    Seiharinokaze

    What's hammered out by FTA between South Korea and the U.S. is, for instance, an exemption of imported American cars from such obligations as exhaust gas emission measurement system and safety standard certification in the S. Korean market. Also tax concessions on small cars were revised and they were newly given to large cars to suit American cars. Likewise the TPP will probably regard the tax concessions now available on ecological cars in Japan as "barriers to entry" and have them abolished for unecological cars. Fraternal insurance by mutual aid associations might also be pointed out as a kind of non-tariff barrier along with the universal medical insurance system and will be replaced by private life/medical insurance. International investors' interests are basically prioritized over the safety and welfare of the state and people as per the notorious ISDS (Investor-state dispute settlement clauses). I doubt the TPP will make our society any more livable and symbiotic. And I predict Noda will lose office leaving the whole issue outstanding. A Japanese way of resistance against the empire.

  • -1

    issa1

    That's right gentleman of dpj. I'm sure the japanese will not forget in the next election. Rip them in 2013.

  • 0

    tigertrap

    i don't know what noda's thinking but tbh i don't think he does think for himself, he just does what the bureaucrats want. don't people remember the stories before the DPJ election that Noda was an ideal choice for the bureaucrats because he was bland and would be a nice puppet? but anyway, just think about it. there is so much opposition from not just the other parties, but also from the DPJ's coalition partner and the majority of the DPJ itself. the LDP is threatening a no confidence motion against the PM for making this decision and PNP is threatening to pull out of the coalition. the DPJ is incredibly divided over it. there is no way Noda survives this decision. he and his cabinet have not even bothered to promote the benefits of this pact to the public. probably because he doesn't know himself and is only doing what he is being told in return for the bureaucrats helping to put him in the PM position.

    he is basically committing PM suicide here, and he must surely know it, so why is he doing it? because the bureaucracy that he's in debt to decided thats what it wanted and thats who he really answers to and they're the reason he's even PM to begin with, to push their interests.

  • 0

    Fadamor

    Fadamor

    http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/5/5/99-0502_article.htm

    These are probably the estimates that CDC put down in 1999. I guess they improved somewhat since then

    Hmm. That's not a CDC article. That's a reprint of an article that appeared in the October 1999 issue of "Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal". While it's true that the authors were scientists at CDC, you probably missed the disclaimer at the bottom of the page that stated:

    The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.

    In short, this was a paper published by the authors, not the CDC.

    Japan's equivilent to the CDC has an interesting article on the subject, also dated in 2008 so it can be compared with the CDC's current webpage:

    http://idsc.nih.go.jp/iasr/29/342/tpc342.html

    The first sentence of it's conclusion refutes the statement that, "in Japan, there were 0 (ZERO) cases of food poisoning deaths.":

    Conclusion: The incidence of bacterial food poisoning has been on the decrease, whereas diffuse outbreaks are occurring and so are deaths almost every year, which requires special attention.

    • Moderator

      Readers, no further discussion of food poisoning please. It is taking the discussion off topic.

  • -2

    issa1

    The time show that replacing LDP to dpj has been worst choice after ww2. This ""experience"" is going cost us dearly.

  • 0

    some14some

    summary of Noda's speech : discussions, analysis and study groups = No, Nippon can not join TPP.

  • 0

    Dotobock

    Structural reform of agriculture, allowing large-scale corporations to run farms, will be the end of small-scale farming. Small scale farming should be seen as the model for others around the world to follow, as it requires less reliance on fossil fuels and promotes biological diversity. When you only have a handful of large multinational corporations controlling the food market you will see more cynical attitudes towards growing food regarding food safety, GMO, and chemicals.

    Many of the large scale farms use illegal immigrants as cheap labor who earn minimum wage and have no rights. Japanese farmers get pension and is under the national welfare program and rightly so. With TPP Im afraid rural Japan will be put to waste and the food self sufficiency will drop even more. Just recently Russia banned all it's export on wheat due to a drought. To be even more dependent on foreign food is too big of a gamble.

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