Japan will not join TPP talks as long as it is required to accept tariff elimination without exemptions for products such as rice and other farm products.
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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Japan will request that U.S. President Barack Obama withdraw the requirements when he meets with Abe in the United States in late February. (NHK)
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3
Probie
Idiot. He obviously doesn't understand what the TPP is about.
The heavily subsidised rice farmers, making their "superior" rice, are too scared of the "inferior" foreign competition?
-1
BertieWooster
Probie,
It's not a question of being scared or the quality of life. Thousands of rice farmers would be out of a job. Whole communities would suffer.
Also, Japanese people just have to have their rice. Years ago when there was a rice shortage, Japan imported rice from Thailand. People went nuts, paying HUGE prices for tiny quantities of Japanese rice.
Don't try and understand it, it's a Japanese thing.
0
BertieWooster
Correction, the above should read, "It's not a question of being scared or the quality of RICE."
2
tmarie
It's not a question of being scared or the quality of life. Thousands of rice farmers would be out of a job. Whole communities would suffer.
Or perhaps they could update their methods, lower the prices and be competitive instead of ripping of Japanese consumers and hiding behind the government?
You also get that a lot of the rice here IS foreign rice but bagged in "made in Japan" bags, right?
2
Dog
BertieWoosterJan. 31, 2013 - 08:35AM JST
The average age of the Japanese rice farmer is 67. They should be out of a job at that age.
0
bilderberg_2015
As long as Japanese consumers continue to bend over for the rice farmers and JA, Japanese membership of TPP stands no chance.
-5
BertieWooster
The TPP is a free-trade agreement among countries. That appears to be a good thing. And it might be if its purpose was trade. But it isn't. Its purpose is political.
The plan for TPP doesn't include China. Apparently China lacks a rules based order because it's one-party rule. Yet, so is Vietnam, but the US wants Vietnam in.
The US is attempting to isolate China with a US-led "containment ring."
However, if this is the purpose, it's not likely to have much success. China is a huge trading partner to many Asian countries and this can only increase in the future. The US economy is suffering, it is no longer the big spender that it once was and so, asian countries are looking elsewhere. China is in a runaway boom at the moment and looks more and more attractive as a buyer of goods.
The US government bends to the wishes of large corporations and vested interests. Through the TPP, this would filter down to Japan and other asian countries. As an example, Japan would be forced to eat California rice, not a bad move in itself, as this would bring prices way down. However, it would completely destroy whole communities in the countryside of Japan that rely on rice production and that could not possibly compete with the mechanised rice production of the U.S.A. TPP countries would become a sort of "mini-America."
With an isolated China "threatened" by a ring of America-centric asian countries, China would have no choice but to build up its arms. The TPP countries would follow suit and we would have the US-USSR conflict all over again. And the inevitable winner of this game could only be China. Asian countries need China far more than they need the U.S.A.
5
volland
@Bertie Wooster
If the japanese want their own rice, then where is the problem? The imported rice will rot on the shelves...
The point is that people will actually figure out, that f.e. in Europe rice imported from halfway around the world is still cheaper than the locally grown rice in Japan.... rice in Japan costs 4 to 6 times as much as in the rets of the world. That one's own rice is thought to be superior is a silly idea which is popular all over the world, that is not the problem. And when the japanese people will be able to buy Thai or Vietnamese Rice at world-wide 100Yen/kilo and find out that there is no difference, then.... And rice is only one subject on the agenda.
The problem is, and that is the subject of the article, that protectionism is only a bad thing when other countries use it, when it comes to one's own country, then there so many good and rational reasons for it...
If you read eceonomic newspapers from the rest of the world, you will see that japan's reputation is falling all over the place, because of the shortsighted monetary politics of the Abe government. It will spark a currency war of protectionism and everyone will be the looser. Japan needs to export to survive! Energy imports of gas and oil are expensive. So, it is easy to figure out who will suffer more, when the protectionism competition gets going.... Abes politics is extermely short sighted, but the japanese people might have known that, in his first stint, he also made that kind of politics.
-1
volland
@Bertie I just saw that in Japan Today there is also an article about it:
http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/abe-shrugs-off-global-criticism-over-latest-stimulus-steps
3
herefornow
LOL. Obviously Abe thinks he has more clout with Obama than he thinks. Also he is completely mis-reading the public opinion in th U.S. regarding this issue. Japan already runs a HUGE balance of payments surplus with the U.S. every year. The last thing Obama is going to agree to is taking agriculture, where the U.S. has a competitive advantage, off the table and lose than bargaining chip. And, anti-Japan sentiment is still relatively high, since, rightly or wrongly, the folks here believe that Japan has unfairly blocked access to their market for U.S. products, including autos. So, politically, Obama knows TPP would stand no chance of ratification if he immediately lets Japan off the hook. This is probably just a stall tactic by Abe, aimed at the Japanese people/voters, since he wants the LDP to sweep the upper-house elections in the summer.
4
Frungy
Personally I'm all for this TPP if it means I get cheap fruit and vegetables. Litchis, dragon fruit, mangos.... all the fruit that Japan DOESN'T produce, but are still hit with the insanely high import duties would now be much cheaper, and I'd be able to eat fruit every day.
Yes, I realise that there are broader socio-economic issues than my belly, but there are also important socio-economic issues to the continuing protection of the Japanese farming industry. Japanese fruit, vegetables and rice are already lower in trace minerals than those in most countries, and this is primarily as a result of over-farming in mineral-poor soil. This leads to many medical problems, and in the long-run Japanese farming is unsustainable for commercial purposes.
So both my belly and my head agree, the TPP is the place for me!
-7
ebisen
Probie
Once the farmers sell their rice paddies to suburban developers (and become multimillionaires in the process) one will never be able to grow rice there. In no time Japan will be left dependent on imports from other countries. Rice independence is an issue of National Safety, not National Economics. So no, Japan should never accept this happening.
2
Scrote
If we spent less money on rice, e.g. by buying cheaper imports, we would have more money to spend on other things, boosting the economy. If the former rice farmers got jobs in factories they would produce more, increasing GDP.
Abe claims to want to boost the economy and grow GDP, yet he refuses to take obvious measures, such as eliminating the rice tariff, that will have those effects.
3
CanadianJapan
Free trade is all about compromise, you loose in some areas and you gain in others. If Japan wants exemptions on rice and other farm products then the U.S should keep tariffs on Japanese car parts and TVs. I remember when I was a kid our TV was made in Canada by Canadian workers. The TV industry was destroyed by Japanese TV manufacturers. What happened to these workers? They found jobs in other fields, TV production has been replaced by software development and other industries. It is nuts to make a TV in Canada just as it is nuts to produce rice in Japan. These rice farmers should think of growing other things or moving to a different field.
For those who want foreign rice, Seiyu has some. They used to have Chinese rice (from Jilin province) but they don't appear to sell it anymore (Senkaku related?). They are now carrying Australian rice, 1500 yen for 5kg. Without the tariffs and taxes it would probably sell for 500 yen, just wonder if a Japanese family on a tight budget would go for the high quality Japanese rice or 500 yen Australian rice.
0
ebisen
Patrick - I disagree - Japan should do all in it's power not to become the whore of countries like China. Do you know the Chinese strategy of taking over the world?
1 - offer dirt cheap products, so that to bring local producers out of business
2 - as soon an you have a monopoly, increase the prices and stronghold your customers at will..
It happened in many cases (see the latest rare earth price increase of over 700% in the past 5 years alone, not justified by any increase in demand or technological advance.
Do you want another example - just look as the whole of Europe being the whore of Russia, every winter when the price for gas imports gets discussed.
So no, Japan should try to remain independent in these absolutely vital areas. I would not want to live and see the chinese conditioning the price of rice for Japan the same way they are conditioning the price of rare earth metals, TPP or not.
-1
tmarie
Once the farmers sell their rice paddies to suburban developers (and become multimillionaires in the process) one will never be able to grow rice there. In no time Japan will be left dependent on imports from other countries. Rice independence is an issue of National Safety, not National Economics. So no, Japan should never accept this happening.
So? If the rice farmers want to sell their land, what on earth does that have to do with TPP? Japan is ALREADY dependant on imports from other countries. What would be nice is if the things they aren't dependant on didn't cost an arm and a leg. Celery from Japan- one STALK is 99 yen. A whole celery from the US is 100 yen. I know which one I buy. Shame that things like peaches, strawberries, cherries, apples, hakusai, cabbage and rice couldn't be the same.
Rice is NOT a national safety issue. It is protectionism and we, the public, are paying the price.
-4
ebisen
You mean you, the person (non-Japanese). The Japanese elected the current leaders, that means they prefer paying the price. Even myself, a foreigner, still prefer to pay the price, instead of the potential alternative
1
BertieWooster
Frungy,
But it does!
Okinawa has great mangos, dragon fruit, star fruit, bananas.
In season, misshapen (but perfectly tasty) mangos are really cheap in the markets here.
-4
tmarie
You mean you, the person (non-Japanese). The Japanese elected the current leaders, that means they prefer paying the price. Even myself, a foreigner, still prefer to pay the price, instead of the potential alternative
No, it doesn't mean they prefer to pay the price of this. Every Japanese person I know whom I've chatted to about this supports TPP coming in.
Does it matter what nationality I am? I buy food for my family and that family includes Japanese folks. Give us all the choice of buying cheaper imports or Japanese products. The farmers know damn well what the public would buy which is exactly why they are against this.
And are you going to answer the question I gave you in the last post or just go on about nationality?
Moderator: Readers do not have to answer your questions. Focus your comments on the story and not at other readers.
4
CanadianJapan
I fully agree. My Japanese colleagues often tell me that Thai rice is terrible, that Japanese would never buy American rice etc. Put it on the shelves and let the people choose. I always buy foreign rice whenever possible (at Seiyu).
-1
Betraythetrust!
As someone who lives in the countryside i can see the reasoning behind this. No problem with Japan protecting some items. Of course some things cost a lot here but many imported foods are now far cheaper than before. People from abroad are used to having supermarkets full of cheap foods but much of these foods are junk. Most processed foods in the west use GM corn by products which are not my idea of "real" food.
Japan still values quality, though sometimes prices can be excessive.
0
tmarie
Betray, no one here has mentioned processed food. Everyone has talked about rice, fruit and vegetables. Why pay more for Japanese celery when American celery is exactly the same? It is protectionism because the Japanese government AND farmers now the public would go with cheaper because the quality is the same - and sometimes better.
0
ebisen
It has nothing to do with TPP!! I never saw any rice grower that got rich due to the heavy subsidies. Only hard working people, struggling to make ends meet, while producing a very important staple. It would be very easy to just let them go bankrupt and sell the paddies. Then what? Become dependent of China's willingness to sell rice to Japan or not? China will never hesitate to use such a dependency to their own advantage, as soon as the chance arrives, especially with Japan. Japan should never trust them with such important matters... Just look at USA and their increasing dependency on China that is already a big problem.
-2
Betraythetrust!
@tmarie
There are good reasons to pay more for things sometimes and that is to preserve what is important in your local community and country. I would rather eat celery from almost any country apart from the US unless it was certified organic. The corn by products can be found even in fresh foods and drinks. The reason we can buy very cheaply abroad is mainly for 2 reasons; The food is produced by huge companies or usually farmers contracted to them who mostly have a poor standard of living. Cheap and illegal labour is used in the growing, harvesting of the foods. The cheap labour part is why the American governments allow illegal immigrants to be there as they are essential to producing cheap foods.
-1
tmarie
I'm all for paying more for quality but sorry, huge, tasteless apples from Nagano at 158 yen a piece? Not interested which is why I don't buy them and buy bananas, kiwis, oranges and grapefruit that are from abroad and much cheaper. Makes no sense that something from NZ is cheaper than something up the road. I have zero desire to support local farmers when they are robbing the public blind and taking more than their fair share of subsidies. I'd rather that money go towards education and health care than farmers. I think most others would as well.
-1
Betraythetrust!
@tmarie
When i was a child there were lots of complaints in media and from shoppers that New Zealand lamb and butter was cheaper than that produced in the UK. There are many reasons why things may be cheaper from another country. You said it make no sense, then i suggest you read up why foodstuffs cost more to produce in one place than another. If all farmers worldwide had a level playing field then there may be reasons to complain but there are reasons for prices being the way they are. Japan as does any developed nation,needs a certain amount of self sufficiency in case of a crisis, this must also be considered by a responsible government. There is always a price to pay for wanting ever decreasing prices. Anyway, expect the price of imported foods to rise now the Yen has and continues to weaken.
0
tmarie
** Japan as does any developed nation,needs a certain amount of self sufficiency**
Japan is not even close to be self sufficient when it comes to food. Perhaps it is you who needs to read up on such things?
Indeed, there are many reasons why food products can be cheaper but let's face it, Japanese farmers don't feel the need to update farming methods because the government protects them with OUR tax money, Give the public the choice and let them decide what foods to buy. Anything less is protectionism.
-1
Betraythetrust!
@tmarie
I do not need to read up, i know the level of Japanese self sufficiency and the fact it is so low means that alarms bells will ring if it falls further. Most nations are nowhere near self sufficient, some can produce more than they need. This is why a nation needs not to be totally reliant on single or small sources for food and energy. You should stop having this chip in your shoulder about "your" tax. I pay tax as well and many things are paid from it that i disagree with, but that is life, we cannot all be in agreement. Many smaller farmers in Japan are now turning organic or using less chemicals.
5
Nessie
A majority of "rice farmers" do their "farming" as a second job.
-2
tmarie
** Many smaller farmers in Japan are now turning organic or using less chemicals.**
So? What does this have to do with TPP?
0
Betraythetrust!
@tmarie
It has a lot to do with it. The whole TPP is not just do you can buy cheap things. The farmers are going organic so they can often deal dierctly with the customer. Many have set up co-ops who also sell online veggie boxes. What you and many fail to understnd is the big picture. The government is not paying your taxes to help farmers but for the security of the nation, the nations most important needs are food and fuel security. There is always a price to pay, slways wanting cheap stuff, because someone always suffers. Everything regarding TPP is not black and white, it is part of the globalist agenda and the ultimate winners are large corporations not the consumer.
-2
tmarie
What does organic have to do with "security of the nation" and TPP? Organic has been proven to not be any more beneficial for your health - and costs a whole lot more. Regardless, Japan is YEARS behind in organic farming as it is so... one more reason to go for TPP. The nation could have had organic food YEARS ago if it would get rid of its protectionism. Same can be said for free range as well. Add in that so few farmers here claim they are organic and are not...
What I, and many, are asking for is choice. If you want to buy organic Japanese grown food, by all means, go for it. I would like to have more choice, like most other nations, when it comes to what I buy. That is it. Stop protecting the farmers here and let them compete on the international stage. If their food is so much better, wouldn't other nations want to buy it??
-1
Betraythetrust!
@tmarie
Organic can have a lot to do with the security of the nation as does Finding ways to provide energy. Yes, acvording to you Japan is behind the west in everything. In fact you are wrong. There is a large amount of organic produce in Japan but the problems lies with the certification which is too expensive for most farmers. I live in a farming community and know what goes on here and if you id you would complain about your taxes being spent on JA not the farmers.
As i said and you seem to fail to understand is your choices may effect others and your environment badly.
Direct your anger at JA not the farmers.
-4
tmarie
So no to TPP because of "national security". Um, yeah...
Those goal posts of yours kept shifting...
Moderator
No more snide remarks please.
4
zichi
All Japanese farmers must follow the instructions issued by the JA, what fertiliser to use and how much etc. If not, the JA won't buy the farmers produce. More recently more farmers have started to go their own way which means more organic vegetables are becoming available. We buy much of ours from a local farmers market which comes to town a few times a week.
Under a forced WTO agreement Japan imports every year 700,000 tons of American short grain rice which is kept in gov't silo's at a cost of ¥150 million per year. When it starts to rot its sold on for animal feed.
-1
Betraythetrust!
That's right Zichi and this is growing fast.
There is a reason the USA want to push this and it is not from the kindness of their hearts to give Japanese consumers cheaper food and more choice.
4
zichi
The JA is the main reason for high food prices. Remove them, the "middle men" and the prices will go down.
0
bruinfan
Agree Zichi! Please remove the JA...
-2
issa1
I hope Abe-san will not sign TPP agreement. Keep away.TPP is poison.
0
billyshears
http://westernfarmpress.com/rice/demand-us-rice-increasing-japan
Actually, it seems US rice is becoming more popular in Japan. The above article doesn't mention it, but it could be more than a few Japanese are worried about just how safe domestic rice is (with the radioactivity problem).
-2
issa1
This is a obama honey trap. TPP is much more than a drop in rates import to zero. It implies rule deep changes in Japanese life Style.
What will happen if Japan sign agreement TPP? For example: If a U.S. company feels aggrieved by a Japanese company, goes into action ISDS. The funny thing is that companies in the United States has never lost a lawsuit in ISDS. Search and see how canada and mexico has suffered sanctions NAFTA of free trade agreement. If Japan sign TPP agreement will be the end. Japan will become a colony of Americans.
0
CraigHicks
The "Food Security " of Japan is in US interests as well, considering that Japan is an ally of the US. Somebody mentioned that the average age of a farmer is over 60; it will be impossible to get younger employees without price supports. The only alternative will be to rely even further on the slave-like labor of foreign "trainees", a socially and politically unhealthy state of affairs.
1
sangetsu03
Yes, it is very important not to lower the price of rice and food products, the 2% of the economy which depends on agriculture must continue to stick it to the 98% which does not. The cost of feeding a family in Japan is nearly three times as much as it is in America, and more than double the cost in Europe. Any reduction in the cost of food in Japan would be a boom to other parts of the economy as it would free people to spend their money on things other than food.
So, Japan will stay out of TPP, and continue to allow it's domestic economy to be non-competetive, and Japan will continue it's slide toward insignifigance.
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