The ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday compiled a set of proposals to help Japanese farmers and businesses cope with the likely impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.
The LDP's policy paper places emphasis on measures to promote exports rather than those to directly protect domestic industries — a clear departure from the party's past policy of allocating huge budgets to help farmers facing the effects of the impending free trade deal.
"The TPP can create vast opportunities for our country to expand businesses and employment, in particular for middle-sized, core companies in provincial regions," the 11-page paper emphasized.