Prime Minister Shinzo Abe again pledged Thursday to fight for Japan's trading interests, despite the prospect of having to eliminate tariffs on certain agricultural products it's attempting to protect in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks.
The government is still pursuing the nation's interests in the TPP talks, Abe told the House of Councilors. "The negotiations are now going into full swing."
The comments suggest Tokyo will keep asking for exceptions in the negotiations, which aim in principle to eliminate all tariffs and trade barriers imposed by the 12 TPP members. But it is highly likely Japanese negotiators will face pressure to make some concessions, particularly on farm products, which Abe vowed to protect as a "sanctuary" to protect domestic farmers, who fear the TPP accord will wipe them out by triggering an influx of cheaper imports.