Failure by Japanese and U.S. negotiators to reach a Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is making headlines across Japan and raising concerns about the implications for U.S. President Barack Obama's trip here later this month.
But as two U.S. congressional representatives and a Washington-based group opposed to the TPP said Friday morning, such commentary obscures a more important reality, which is that regardless of what is announced by Obama and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the final TPP agreement must still be approved by Congress, where opposition to the pact, and to granting Obama the fast track authority to negotiate it, is strong and unlikely to change anytime soon.
As for Japan, long-standing pressure by congressional representatives from America's beef and pork producing areas or those close to the auto industry to get Japan to reduce tariffs remains strong.