LDP to approve Japan's participation in TPP talks: policy chief

Minggu, 06 Januari 2013 15:07

(TOKYO-Kyodo) Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Sanae Takaichi said Sunday that if Prime Minister Shinzo Abe decides to join the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations, the party will accept his decision.

"It is possible that Japan will take part in the talks, while aiming to protect national interests, and drop out of them if Japan does not meet the requirements," she told a Fuji Television program, adding, "It depends on the Cabinet."

She also said the LDP's Policy Research Council will present its own conditions for joining the negotiations and urge the government to withdraw if it cannot satisfy them.

On expectations in business circles that Abe will declare Japan's intention to participate in the TPP talks when he visits the United States probably later this month, Takaichi said, "The premier will not suddenly declare this during an overseas trip."

There is opposition to Japan's participation in the TPP especially from farmers, who fear an influx of cheaper produce from overseas with tariffs lowered or eliminated.

In the same program, economic and fiscal policy minister Akira Amari said, "Cooperation between Japan and the United States is quite important in achieving development and stability in Asia," indicating a positive stance on participating in the TPP negotiations.

He also said, "I will examine how flexible the United States can be toward Japan," indicating his willingness to ask Washington to make exceptions to the removal of tariffs during the bilateral preparatory consultations.

In a campaign pledge for the House of Representatives election on Dec. 16, the LDP said it will oppose Japan's participation in the TPP talks if the country is required to accept unconditional tariff elimination.

Seiko Noda, head of the LDP's decision-making General Council, told the program, "We need to abide by our election campaign promises."