politics

Pacific trade talks fail to clinch TPP deal

25 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2015 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

25 Comments
Login to comment

“That just gives the growing progressive movement and the growing anti-corporate movement more time to make a case.” Good! I hope the case will blow the door off this TPP (corporate) scam once and for all and allow the masses to see the TPP's true colors.

TPP is nothing more than a secretive and corrupt trade agreement being negotiated by special interest lobbyists and corporate lawyers around the world FULL STOP.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I'm almost sure the TPP will not happen. I can't see Japan budging on the agricultural issue, and I can't see the United States budging on the auto issue. In addition to that, there are still the other countries to think about. Canada Australia and New Zealand all have their own issues. So, it's just too hard. However, good riddance to such garbage anyway. trade deals so significant such as the TPP should not be conducted in secret.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Big surprise!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

No legislation that elected public representatives have to go into a locked room to read and then can barely take notes should ever be passed. Not unless its about national security and the country is already at war.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Its over, all the next US president has to do is drop it and it's all a big waste of money and time.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The Pacific rim countries should not have included Japan in the TPP. Japanese agricultural lobby has a strong hold on the politicians and the government protection enjoyed by the farmers, ranchers, the brainwashed citizens will not allow a level-playing field.

2 ( +4 / -3 )

The TPP is nothing short of an international corporate coup des lois that will impose corporate rule on the United States. It is fundamentally un-American. Bottom Line: It's basically a race to the bottom for the 99%.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I'm so happy. The US Wall Street 1% is trying to take over the world in a new form of neo-colonialism=imperialism. We don't need another global disaster.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The fact that negotiations have gotten this far shows the will of the political talking heads to bow to the wishes of their corporate bosses. Despite the will of the people in many of the countries involved, they will still find a way to get it done if past deals and even the recent Greek drama is any example. Capital is a slippery, deceptive and greedy parasite that incites the financial and corporate narcissists and is extremely hard to contain.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton is sitting on the fence,"

That's what she's good at - sitting on the fence.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Pacific trade talks fail to clinch TPP deal

Best news I've heard all week!

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Hmmm...worker's rights were on the table too. Who finds out such things as this was suppose to be a closed meeting by the Illuminati!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well it's stalled not ended. Here's a chance to let the politicians know they don't speak for us. No one will be able to vote on it across 12 countries resulting in Corporate Rule

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Serrano: "That's what she's good at - sitting on the fence."

And who's the front runner for your party again, Serrano? You forgot, also, to quote the part where most of the Republican candidates back... wait for it... OBAMA!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

No surprise. I knew that. It may take a couple of hundreds of years to reach it. Indiviual two-country free trade seem better and easier.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Nothing good is to be expected of any new trade deals. It is about more control and servitude.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

No good. Japan would be better off to let in the New Zealand butter, etc.

So, some farmers in Japan wouldn't be protected anymore? That's too bad for them. But it's only one side of the story.

Think about the abundance of cheaper butter that would come in, reducing input costs for cake makers and the like. Lower input prices will boost profitability for cake makers. Increased profitability will lead to new businesses starting up to take advantage. Increased competition will lead to lower prices of cakes, thus increasing demand for them. The new businesses will boost employment opportunities. And more people get to enjoy eating cake and other foods that use butter. (Plus the ridiculous government bureaucracy running butter production in Japan could be eliminated with the free market doing the job instead, for free.)

So New Zealand has advantages over other countries when it comes to dairy production - so what? Japan is good at making certain things too.

Everyone gets ahead, not by irrationally protecting their uncompetitive sectors, but by working as a team with their overseas friends and allies. The economic growth that results will help to re-employ those who find themselves out of a job as a result.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

fxgai

The world would be a better place without New Zealand butter.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Do we need cheap butter?

I'm pretty sure that when even Marie Antoinette said "let them eat cake", she didn't mean it to be an important human necessity or right.

What's wrong with traditional Japanese confectionary? Do the Japanese need to go the way of clotted arteries?

Actually, like most Asians, a large proportion of Japanese lack the enzymes to digest milk products.

It's just a seasonal shortage. Demand for dairy has dropped in Japan leading to 10,000s of cows being slaughtered and even farmers killing themselves over the last few years. The last thing they need is for their market to be crushed by overseas interests.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

The last thing they need is for their market to be crushed by overseas interests. lol its called becoming competetive. fine japan can block all the butter and agriculture products it see fit, just dont expect tarriffs to be removed on electronics , cars, autoparts going into the US, the South Koreans have there FTA with the US enjoying 0% tarriffs on there cars electronics going into the US. Theyd enjoy nothing more than keep the price advantage they have over J manufacturers. If Japan wants to keep the 1.2% of the economy, less than 2% of the population protected at the cost of the majority then go right ahead, itll hurt Japan much more in the long term.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

ISD artcle is scary. American companies can suit a foreign government. It seems that USA never lost the law suit on ISD article when it suited against Canada and Mexico. Why did the TPP members agree to ISD?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

newyorknewyork,

Do we need cheap butter?

You and I can only speak for ourselves. I personally don't like butter, don't want to buy it, and rarely eat cake. But I don't like government interference in free markets much, much more. People in general should be able to freely conduct commerce with one another.

And it's not just about the butter from overseas being cheaper than "protected" Japanese product. Many people are annoyed by the butter shortages in Japan.

It's just a seasonal shortage.

Butter is available year round, around the rest of the world. It's in shortage in Japan because of government interference, not the seasons, or lack of technology.

Demand for dairy has dropped in Japan leading to 10,000s of cows being slaughtered and even farmers killing themselves over the last few years. The last thing they need is for their market to be crushed by overseas interests.

Anyone who thinks being a protected farmer is so bad ought to switch into another happier line of business. Sticking it out, preventing progress, and dragging everyone else down is just selfish.

Do the Japanese need to go the way of clotted arteries?

Eating too much cake and not doing enough exercise is outside the scope of this discussion.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

As I've written before, the reasons to support farmers and farming communities go much further than the economic profitability of their businesses.

On one hand, you have issue relating to food security, which you could even see as an essential part of defence; on the other hand, you have the maintenance of the environment and infrastructure, roads, rail, rivers etc.

You can just download a new farming infrastructure then delete it when its not needed like it is a computer game.

Capitalism as it is practiced and how it is developing in order to serve the corporations rather than human beings or the environment we all depend on is also a tool of domination, exploitation and, ultimately, war.

Left unfettered by governments it would destroy everything in its path. It's doing a pretty good job of doing so already.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Capitalism versus Governments. People getting to eat their butter, or not. Hmmmm.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites