Japan Upper House Panel Seeks TPP Tariff Removal Exceptions

   Tokyo, April 18 (Jiji Press)--A Japanese House of Councillors committee adopted Thursday a resolution demanding that five key agricultural items be exempted from tariff removal if Japan is to join a Trans-Pacific Partnership deal.
   The resolution requested that the government put priority on securing exemptions for the five items--rice, wheat, beef and pork, dairy products, and crops for sweetening.
   Japan should quit the TPP talks if it cannot win exemptions for the items, it said.
   The resolution, submitted jointly by the Liberal Democratic Party, the Democratic Party of Japan, New Komeito, People's Life Party and Green Wind, was endorsed by a majority vote at the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee of the upper chamber of the Diet, or parliament.
   Noting that there is no broad consensus among the public on Japan's bid to participate in the TPP talks, the resolution said the government should disclose sufficient information to promote national debate on the issue.

(2013/04/18-15:21)

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