politics

U.S.-Japan group calls for completion of TPP pact

26 Comments

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26 Comments
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He said Japan must develop a stronger military with broader capabilities -

While he was thinking, "Wouldn`t it be great if we can dupe Japan into buying more of our military equipment."

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Sorry Jfarmers. Wether you like it or not, people deserve cheaper grains to eat. Try to plant some trees instead. Hurry up Japan and bring cheap imported rice to my table.

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

The way this article reads the TPP only involves the US and Japan. There are many other countries involved. The US is pushing because hey want the Japanese rice market. However, the other markets mean a lot more to the rest of the countries involved. Japan needs to join the TPP more than other countries (except the US) need Japan to join it. If Japan keep balking and trying to stipulate conditions they should be just cut out if it altogether. The only ones that are gonna be upset are the US grain farmers.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

They could have stopped after writing the headline.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Free trade is smart, and is more practical than tax increases. The best government intervention secures trade deals that benefit the economy.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Indiana Gov Mike Pence cited Ronald Reagan? He must be a GOP candidate for president.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Lots and lots of talk, but no one doing the walk.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It seems most of the details regarding TPP remain secret, waiting to be unloaded on various unsuspecting non-US publics.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Stop using 9/11 as a ploy to get people to agree to your terms!!!!!! If you can't make a valid argument without using 9/11 once then you should just keep quiet.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

My daddy used to always say, "Don't sign anything without reading it." As both an American citizen and a resident of Japan with a Japanese family I am fully opposed to the people of of either country entering into an agreement of which the majority is a secret.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

If the TPP were a normal free trade agreement (end tariffs, open barriers, that's it), we'd accept it in a heartbeat.

But it ISN"T, It's DANGEROUS! Corporate bodies will reign over everyone like kings and our nations' Constitutional rights will be taken away!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Ah, I like to dream about buying an apple in Japan that doesn't cost $3, and rice from Thailand that doesn't have an 800% tariff slapped on it...! (Never understood why the tariff is so high on imported rice when all you hear is that Japanese people will never eat non-Japanese rice...!)

2 ( +3 / -1 )

This "partnership" will criminalise everything from generic drugs to doujinshi and cosplay! It's in Wikipedia!

http://en.wikipedia.org/Trans-Pacific_Partnership

3 ( +3 / -0 )

“We are putting up every item on the negotiating table,” he said. “As a result tariffs on numerous agricultural products will be eliminated. For those products Japan cannot get to zero on, market access will be improved.”

We'll see. While I would love to believe this, it flies in the face of decades of Japanese actions, and also against one of the most powerful voting blocks/loyal supporters of the LDP.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

"As President Reagan proved, peace comes through strength and conversely weakness arouses evil.”

How come the peaceniks don't get this?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Ah, I like to dream about buying an apple in Japan that doesn't cost $3, and rice from Thailand that doesn't have an 800% tariff slapped on it...! (Never understood why the tariff is so high on imported rice when all you hear is that Japanese people will never eat non-Japanese rice...!)

onagamo -- I had the same dream for over ten years while I lived in Japan. And, of course, it never happened. Wish you better luck, but wouldn't bet the ranch on it. Even if Japan agrees to move towards free trade on agricultural products, it will negotiate in terms that allow it to reduce the tariffs over many, many years, like they did with Australia. Plus, that does not eliminate the non-tariff restrictions Japan has, like the burdensome regulations om imported apples for example.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

TPP = RIP OFF.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The TPP is way more than a trade agreement. It's a legal green light for the US to have other countries' laws and regulations rewritten and completely undermine those nations' sovereignty.

No wonder the key details are bring kept under wraps. if they were released, nobody would vote for them!

Trade deal hands US power to rewrite NZ laws

"The US basically claims the right to decide what a country's obligations are under a trade and investment agreement. It then refuses to bring the agreement into force in relation to the other country until that government has changed its laws, regulations and administrative processes to fit the US expectation of what is needed to comply. This certification process can run on for years."

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11307872

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Trade deal hands US power to rewrite NZ laws

"The US basically claims the right to decide what a country's obligations are under a trade and investment agreement. It then refuses to bring the agreement into force in relation to the other country until that government has changed its laws, regulations and administrative processes to fit the US expectation of what is needed to comply. This certification process can run on for years."

SushiSake3 -- So what? It's called leverage. The U.S. has by far the world's largest economy, and countries understand the potential for getting totally free access to it. Otherwise they would not even be involved in the talks. So if the U.S. is going to open its economy, it has a right to assure its domestic industries that they will be competing on an even footing. Are you saying Japan would not use the same tactics if they were in the same position? Please!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@LagunaSEP. 09, 2014 - 06:55PM JST Indiana Gov Mike Pence cited Ronald Reagan? He must be a GOP candidate for president.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Pence is a GOP member. Many people in USA quote Reagan, /that does not mean all og them are GOP camdidates tp US President.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The TPP will give full power to the big corporations, that will be the beginning of a slavery law treatment, no self sustainable country allowed, for those who just see the lower price of produce that will come with a higher outcome, GMO will spread without control, militarize police, total control of the media for the corporations backed by governments, mining no freedom of speech, look the fracking and GMO protesters are tread like outlaws and some like terrorists, big money will be grossly, abusive and uncontrollabl e.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is an era of globalization and hence in order to enhance trade between nations countries like the US and Japan should join hands with other economic powers and work towards removing all trade barriers between nations! Let there be a world where there is a free flow of goods and services between nations so that the emancipation of the entire human race from the clutches of economic woes will be on the horizon! Of course, it is easier said than done but no efforts should be spared in that direction!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Even if Japan agrees to the TPP, they'll just use non-tariff trade barriers to get around it. You'll never see reasonably priced fruit or rice here.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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