Japan may miss the TPP boat, Edano worries

Trade minister Yukio Edano has said Japan should join talks over the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade pact as soon as possible, as the negotiations are already at an advanced stage.

Yukio Edano

Speaking Wednesday at the government's first open debate on the TPP held online, Edano suggested Japan should quickly take part in the multilateral free-trade talks as the nine countries negotiating the regional deal aim to complete a basic outline by the time an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit is held in mid-November.

"Our country would be committing to the process at quite a late stage," Edano said.

The trade minister also voiced concerns over the gloomy outlook for export-oriented manufacturers and its impact on regional economies, where many farmers have sideline jobs at factories. "If we don't do anything to help the manufacturing industry, regional economies will be a mess," he said.

The debate was also attended by Takeshi Niinami, president of convenience store chain Lawson Inc. who is lobbying for Japan to join the TPP talks, and Koichi Kato, chairman of the association of Seikatsu Club consumer cooperatives, who opposes the move.

Niinami said joining the TPP is essential to allow Japan to access the rapid growth projected for Asian economies, as well as to protect domestic employment.