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| November 8, 2011 |
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| Don't Participate in TPP Negotiation! |
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Objection is rapidly growing in the society to Japan's joining the TPP (=Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement) negotiation. A protest rally, National Rally to Defend Food, Life and Livelihood, was held October 26, attracting over 3 thousand from various organizations, like, Co-operatives, the Japan Medical Association and organizations of agriculture, forestry and fishery sectors. The event adopted a resolution to refute the agreement and presented to the government signatures of opposition over 11 million and 660 thousand citizens.
LET'S ENHANCE VOICES OF OBJECTION TO TPP!
No More Trickery!
Protest voices are heard extensively and massively. They come out from the Japan Association of City Mayors and National Association of Towns & Villages, 359 lawmakers including those of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), 80% of the local governments and 14 Governors of 47 prefectures.
That means invented phrases of the government and business circle do not work to persuade people. They are 'a TPP monster', 'don't miss the bus', 'withdraw if you find it inconvenient', and etc. In other words, people clearly see through in the campaigns of DPJ government manipulated information, lies and deceptions to begin understanding what TPP will bring forth.
TPP advocates use as a tactic an example of South Korea, referring to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). That is (1) Japan will be defeated by South Korea, and (2) domestic industry will be undermined. The supporters threaten people. But their comment is another camouflage. They insist: 'South Korea increases trade amount, and if Japan competes with that neighbor that has eliminated import tariffs, it will lose'. They explain as if the record figures of South Korea were outcomes of FTA. In fact, however, the currency has been depreciated, which pushes up the export sum.
At the beginning of Lehman Shock in 2008 the South Korean currency was appreciated as 918 Won against US Dollar, but since then it has plunged to be 1,113 against it today, a decline by 21%. Meanwhile the Japanese Yen surged from 120 Yen against US Dollar to 75 Yen, a rise by 38%. If a nation's currency is depreciated, export is easier, while import, more difficult. South Korea grows export, while Japan faces greater difficulties for export.
Let's look at Toyota Motor Corporation. If the exchange market goes up by 1%, the company's gain is said to drop by 34 billion Yen. A leading businessman told about the today's high Yen against US Dollar, saying: 'the limit is 75 Yen. If it gets higher, there is no option - to go out overseas'. He does not conceal a truth that the exchange fluctuations disintegrate the domestic industrial structure.
Then, let's look at trade performance between China and Japan. It is bigger than the amount held between the US and Japan. The controversial TPP agreement constitutes a scheme to counter or to confront China. It does not help Japan as the archipelago is situated in Asia. This is so clear that a schoolchild can understand.
Listen to People's Voices
What is TPP? Firstly, it is a US strategy to face China in which the former retains its influence over the Asian region and it requests Japan's cooperation. Secondly, the TPP mechanism is practically the same as a bilateral FTA and the United States cannot enjoy merits unless Japan joins. Thirdly, jeopardizing consequences are anticipated in the fields of agriculture, labor, medicine, finance and safety of food as well as municipalities in the country. The Japanese society as a whole will be affected.
Concretely speaking, (1) the National Health Care System will be uprooted by a free medical consultation program and a price of medicine will rise, (2) cheap labor will flow in, which may increase unemployment and decrease wages, (3) an influx of cheap agricultural products will sharply reduce the food self-sufficiency level from the current 40% down to 13%, agriculture in the mountainous regions will collapse, environment will be destroyed and 3.3 million jobs will be lost in the food-related industries, (4) the postal savings and insurance sectors will be intervened by foreign capitals and postal services will be cut off, (5) by participation of foreign capitals competitions among companies will be more intense and administrative jobs will be more costly in the procurement procedures of central and local governments, and (6) the Japan's standard of BSE control over 20-month-old bovines will be deregulated and extended to 30-month-old, description on a genetically modified item will be eliminated of agricultural product, and a post-harvest rules will be loosened. Countless demerits are envisaged.
According to press reports, however, Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko told; 'we have no reason to refrain from joining the TPP negotiation, however strong may be the objections'. Premier does not listen to voices or pay attention to concerns of people. Lt's strengthen movements more extensively to oppose TPP than ever!
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