ID :
31520
Fri, 11/21/2008 - 22:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/31520
The shortlink copeid
Ishiba's flexible stance on WTO talks worries farmers+
TOKYO, Nov. 21 Kyodo - Jitters spread among farmers in Japan Friday as the Japanese farm minister indicated he will take a flexible stance on so-called ''sensitive products'' at imminent ministerial talks on trade liberalization under the World Trade Organization.
The Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives decided to hold a rally of some
3,000 farmers from across Japan in Tokyo on Dec. 9 to urge the government not
to make any compromise unfavorable to Japan's agriculture at a ministerial
meeting of the Doha Round of multilateral trade talks being considered for next
month.
The umbrella body of agricultural cooperatives, known as JA Zenchu, made the
decision at a meeting of officials from its prefectural chapters hastily
convened after Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shigeru Ishiba
said, ''To secure enough (sensitive farm products) is not the only thing that
matters.''
''I will find out the best national interest for Japan and will do my utmost
based on it'' at the coming meeting, Ishiba told reporters.
Sensitive agricultural products are those to be exempted from steep tariff
reductions.
Japan is seeking at least 8 percent of all farm products to be treated as such,
while WTO Secretary General Pascal Lamy has proposed an exemption range from 4
percent to 6 percent, which would force Japan and other countries to
substantially cut import tariffs on many politically sensitive products, such
as rice, wheat and dairy products.
Ishiba will visit Geneva from Sunday to Tuesday to explain Japan's stance on
farm trade in his meetings with Lamy and other top WTO officials.
Following Ishiba's remarks, a senior farm cooperative official in Kagoshima
Prefecture said, ''We are concerned'' because food importers, other than Japan,
are reportedly inclined to accept the 4 to 6 percent limit.
Trade and foreign ministers from the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation forum agreed Thursday in Lima, Peru, to support the promotion of
the Doha Round free trade talks.
Akio Shibata, head of the Marubeni Research Institute, said the WTO ministerial
meeting, if held as expected, may agree on modalities of the Doha Round talks
as many countries are worried about a resurgence of protectionism as long as
the Doha Round stays in a rupture.
==Kyodo
2008-11-21 22:34:33
The Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives decided to hold a rally of some
3,000 farmers from across Japan in Tokyo on Dec. 9 to urge the government not
to make any compromise unfavorable to Japan's agriculture at a ministerial
meeting of the Doha Round of multilateral trade talks being considered for next
month.
The umbrella body of agricultural cooperatives, known as JA Zenchu, made the
decision at a meeting of officials from its prefectural chapters hastily
convened after Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Shigeru Ishiba
said, ''To secure enough (sensitive farm products) is not the only thing that
matters.''
''I will find out the best national interest for Japan and will do my utmost
based on it'' at the coming meeting, Ishiba told reporters.
Sensitive agricultural products are those to be exempted from steep tariff
reductions.
Japan is seeking at least 8 percent of all farm products to be treated as such,
while WTO Secretary General Pascal Lamy has proposed an exemption range from 4
percent to 6 percent, which would force Japan and other countries to
substantially cut import tariffs on many politically sensitive products, such
as rice, wheat and dairy products.
Ishiba will visit Geneva from Sunday to Tuesday to explain Japan's stance on
farm trade in his meetings with Lamy and other top WTO officials.
Following Ishiba's remarks, a senior farm cooperative official in Kagoshima
Prefecture said, ''We are concerned'' because food importers, other than Japan,
are reportedly inclined to accept the 4 to 6 percent limit.
Trade and foreign ministers from the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation forum agreed Thursday in Lima, Peru, to support the promotion of
the Doha Round free trade talks.
Akio Shibata, head of the Marubeni Research Institute, said the WTO ministerial
meeting, if held as expected, may agree on modalities of the Doha Round talks
as many countries are worried about a resurgence of protectionism as long as
the Doha Round stays in a rupture.
==Kyodo
2008-11-21 22:34:33
