Japan's farmers should be able to weather the shock from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement with time and technical help from its trading partners, New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser asserted Friday in Tokyo.
When Japanese tariffs on imported food are removed by the TPP, projections show that parts of its agriculture industry will be obliterated. But these projections fail to account for the positive influence of innovation and cooperation, Groser said at a news conference ahead of a trip to meet farmers in Hokkaido.
Japan could expand its existing ties to use the agricultural expertise of New Zealand and other partners in the 12-party TPP, the minister said.