politics

Japan urges compromise with U.S. to spur TPP trade pact

20 Comments
By MATTHEW PENNINGTON

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Compromise? Does that mean Japan gets what it wants due it's unique "special" circumstance?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

The Japanese definition of compromise is, my way or the highway! Japan needs an unrestricted international trade agreement to increase consumer spending for the sake of the sales tax hike paying off the public debt. However, it would also mean all the farmers that are being paid not to grow rice would have to take a pension or get a real job. It would also mean the Japanese ministry of finance would have to give up their price fixing practices on many consumer goods let retail competition into its structure.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Japan needs to just pull out if they are not ready to sit at the grown-ups table yet. Japan should focus their energy on negotiating dozens of half baked bilateral free-ish trade agreements rather than wasting everyone's time.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Just add the same tariff for automobiles as they do with agriculture. Fair deal then.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

TPP was started by New Zealand but taken over by the U.S, I am sure that we never intended to negotiate and warp the playing field based on two countries self interests. TPP should be concluded without Japan and the U.S as intended.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

“Hiroyuki Ishige, who is chairman of the Japan External Trade Organization, told a Washington think tank that political leaders of both sides need to make bold decisions and recognize the strategic importance of finalizing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP.”

It's too little and too late for Hiroyuki Ishige to ulter those empty words.

Unfortunately, Japan missed a golden opportunity last April when Obama was in Tokyo. Now the position of the US, under tremendous pressures exerted by American grain and dairy trade groups has somewhat hardened than ever before.

Although TPP negotiation between the US and Japan has not reached the state of impasse yet, real progress might be only made when time ripens- possibly after mid-term election in Nov.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

ask to have the translation of compromise redone, it doesn't mean what you think it means

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The U.S. and Japan should reach a compromise in bilateral trade negotiations to help conclude a trans-Pacific free trade pact by year’s end, a senior Japanese official said Tuesday.

LOl. Japan comes to the party late full well knowing the rules -- no tariiffs or sacred cows -- then promptly digs its heels in on numerous agricultural-related categories and autos. And then says "OK, let's comromise". That kind of childish behavior cannot be rewarded, because it will mean a treaty of un-equals. The only "bold decision" that needs to be made here is that Obama needs to have the guts to throw Japan to the curb and get on with the TPP without them.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I bet majority of you who posted this silly remarks are actually those who has huge interest in this, but frankly, this TTP is tailored for US economy, not for Asian economy, this TPP is what Obama told to the Congress , the way to make tens of thousands of new US jobs . So, here in TPP its all what America wants, and did you forgot that Congers specifically asked that no trade pact could be signed untill they see and evaluate the agreement ? And you call for free trade, but at same time, US wants clause for Japan car and car parts , where they can ban the entrance for Japan car and car plants , if they fear that can jeopardize US car market , is that the free trade ? And again, for US cars, they ask Japan to lover the safety and eco regulations that cars need to pass in Japan , just because US auto companies dont think green , they want to force same thing in Japan .

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

NO TPP. TPP = "no regulations on capital flow", which is a well known means for US Wall Street making worldwide economic disasters.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Why should any Country compromise with Japan when they clearly do not themselves.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

LOl. Japan comes to the party late full well knowing the rules -- no tariiffs or sacred cows -- then promptly digs its heels in on numerous agricultural-related categories and autos. And then says "OK, let's comromise". That kind of childish behavior cannot be rewarded, because it will mean a treaty of un-equals. The only "bold decision" that needs to be made here is that Obama needs to have the guts to throw Japan to the curb and get on with the TPP without them.

LOL. Obama neither has the guts nor the power to do such thing for he's operating on borrrowed time. Coupled with the fact that precedence has been set with Australia in regards to agricultural sector which basically will result in Japan having FTA and/or EPA with 8 out of 11 TPP participants, there is absolutely very little incentive for Japan to cave in at this point.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

now rhis is what I,m talking about... Mr Ishige understand the importance of TPP to Japan and compromise is the key.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Deals have yp be reach. Tariffs will always exists and cuotes too

0 ( +0 / -0 )

LOL. Obama neither has the guts nor the power to do such thing for he's operating on borrrowed time.

nigelboy -- you clearly know nothing about the current dynamics of U.S. politics, especially in a mid-term election year. Politically, the best thing he could do is throw out Japan from the talks, because then both the blue states (auto) and red states (farming) would not be able to use TPP against the Democrats in the November elections. And, most Democrats are not in favor of TPP to begin with, so this would be a win-win. So he absolutely has the power to do it. Whether he has the guts is another issue.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

nigelboy -- you clearly know nothing about the current dynamics of U.S. politics, especially in a mid-term election year. Politically, the best thing he could do is throw out Japan from the talks, because then both the blue states (auto) and red states (farming) would not be able to use TPP against the Democrats in the November elections. And, most Democrats are not in favor of TPP to begin with, so this would be a win-win. So he absolutely has the power to do it. Whether he has the guts is another issue

I do. That's why I made the statement. Obama has no power since there is no fast track in place. The mere fact as you say that "Democrats are not in favor of TPP to begin with" is another for it's one of many Obama "pie in the sky" policy failures. Listen to yourself jerseyboy.

"because then both the blue states (auto) and red states (farming) would not be able to use TPP against the Democrats in the November elections."

LOL. It's another way of saying "let's not publicly advertise another one of my failures in hopes that I might not lose as much in the election".

Win-win? Are you serious?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Obama has no power since there is no fast track in place.

nigelboy -- huh? You might want to listen to yourself, or at least re-read your own posts. You said Obama does not have the "power" to throw Japan out. But now you are saying he doesn't have the power to get the deal through Congress. So which is it? He ABSOLUTELY has the power to toss Japan to the curb, and as I said, would politically the best thing for him to do. So what am I missing?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I wrongly posted " Japan auto plants " but I wanted to say "parts " , lol.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

nigelboy -- huh? You might want to listen to yourself, or at least re-read your own posts. You said Obama does not have the "power" to throw Japan out. But now you are saying he doesn't have the power to get the deal through Congress. So which is it? He ABSOLUTELY has the power to toss Japan to the curb, and as I said, would politically the best thing for him to do. So what am I missing?

Both. Why do you have a hard time understanding this? Since when did U.S. become a spokesperson for TPP?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

There is an amazing lack of understanding of what TPP is really about. It's not about making things better for Japan, in particular with regard to imported foods & seeds. Farmers would effectively be forced to grow GMO foods, whose foreign corporations would be protected by new Intl. laws. If you know what's happening in this context in the US and understand the health implications, it's the last thing anybody would be supportive or defensive about. It's alsoone reason why JA (Japan Agriculture) is so vehemently against it. Not only would crops, etc. from abroad find their ways into Japan, but the Japanese farmers are vehemently against growing GMO foods. Why? Because they understand that once these seeds are propagated there is no turning back, ever. There are many other clauses which will further take away power from the Japanese government and give it to foreign corporations seeking to exploit the Japanese market. Only a corrupt government would accept / aim to join TPP and that's what Abe's regime is. We can only hope JA's powerful association of voters continues to strongly resist and at least create a stalemate. The jewel in the crown of TPP would be the inclusion of Japan - which is why the US continues to wait for Japan to join. It's NOT in Japan or it's people's interests.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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