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CPTPP

"No Ordinary Deal" book launch & PM response
16-Nov-2010 Scoop
On Wednesday 10 November a group of academics, media and politicos gathered at Victoria University’s Rutherford House to launch a remarkable book about the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The complete audio from the launch is contained in this report.
Indonesia unprepared for Asia-Pacific free trade
15-Nov-2010 Tempo
“We think we are not ready yet because the agreement is very hard for the local industry,” Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said
US puts ’foot to the pedal’ to conclude Asia trade deal, USTR Kirk says
14-Nov-2010 Bloomberg
The US is pushing to complete trade talks with nine Asia-Pacific countries by late next year that lays the groundwork for a bigger agreement that includes China, Trade Representative Ron Kirk said.
Kan asked to attend Pacific FTA summit on Sunday as APEC chair
13-Nov-2010 Kyodo
In the TPP summit, the leaders are expected to formally welcome Malaysia as the group’s latest member, according to sources close to the negotiating countries.
Key sets Japan straight on free trade rationale
12-Nov-2010 NZ Herald
If agriculture was off the Trans-Pacific Partnership table as far as Japan was concerned, then New Zealand did not want to see Japan around the TPP negotiating table. "It’s as simple as that."
Japan’s farmers oppose Pacific free-trade talks
12-Nov-2010 NYT
Atsushi Kono considers it the gravest threat to his family’s farm in a century of rice-growing: a free-trade initiative that could dismantle Japan’s sky-high protective farming tariffs, finally opening up the country to cheap, foreign produce.
Japan farmers protest free trade as APEC meets
10-Nov-2010 Reuters
Thousands of Japanese farmers rallied on Wednesday to demand their government steer clear of a US-led free trade initiative which would open the heavily protected agricultural sector to fierce competition.
Thousands in Japan protest new free trade agreement
10-Nov-2010 CNN
An estimated 3,000 Japanese farmers converged in Tokyo on Wednesday to protest against Japan joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, which would destroy Japanese agriculture and community
Farmers fear economic fallout from Pacific FTA
10-Nov-2010 Kyodo
Japanese farmers voiced concerns Tuesday about the day’s decision by the Cabinet to begin consultations with the United States and other countries to forge a trans-Pacific free-trade agreement, saying further liberalization of trade would deal them a heavy blow.
Jane Kelsey: Trading sovereignty for short-term advantage
8-Nov-2010 NZ Herald
The TPPA would impose the most far-reaching obligations on New Zealand since the Closer Economic Relations agreement with Australia, deepening our commitment to free market policies that affect our jobs, our social and cultural well-being, and ultimately the sovereignty to make decisions as a nation.
Farmers take Japan’s place at TPP bargaining table
7-Nov-2010 Japan Times
The Japanese government did not clearly state its stance in the basic FTA policy it set out Saturday and only stipulated that it will start approaching the countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks.
Q+A: Japan has headache over US-led free trade deal
5-Nov-2010 Reuters
Japan is having trouble forging a consensus on joining an Asia-Pacific free trade initiative, a pact that business lobbies want the government to pursue but that long-protected and politically powerful farmers are resisting.
APEC to refer to Pacific FTA as pathway to free trade area: draft
4-Nov-2010 Mainichi
At the annual APEC summit meeting in Yokohama on Nov. 13 and 14, the 21-member forum is planning to specify for the first time in its declaration the possible efforts to realize the long-term goal of creating a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific.
Cabinet to declare stance on trans-Pacific FTA on Nov. 9
4-Nov-2010 Japan Times
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s Cabinet will adopt on Nov. 9 a basic policy on free trade, including its stance on a US-backed trans-Pacific free-trade agreement, national policy minister Koichiro Genba said Tuesday.
Tokyo warned of risks from Pacific trade pact
2-Nov-2010 Financial Times
Takashi Shinohara, senior vice minister for agriculture, strongly denies Japanese media reports that Tokyo has already decided to launch talks with the US and others on entry to the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Farm leader opposed to Japan participating in trans-pacific FTA
29-Oct-2010 Mainichi
Mamoru Moteki, president of the Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives, told a press conference that government subsidies to farming families alone cannot prompt farmers to accept Japan’s participation in the FTA.
US demands complicate Japan’s plans for regional trade pact
28-Oct-2010 Asahi Shimbun
Concerns and demands from Japan’s closest trade partner, the United States, have complicated Tokyo’s increasingly contentious plan to enter negotiations for the creation of an Asia-Pacific free trade zone.
TPP briefings to be held on APEC sidelines
27-Oct-2010 Japan Times
Japan, China, Canada and the Philippines will be briefed on progress in the ongoing talks to expand the four-member Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP) on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meetings on 9 November in Yokohama.
US praises Japan for FTA plan
26-Oct-2010 Reuters
The US welcomes Japan’s new interest in joining negotiations on the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would require it to tackle tough US agriculture and other concerns, a senior US State Department official said yesterday.
Gov’t eyes reference to TPP negotiations in basic policy for EPA
25-Oct-2010 Mainichi News
The Japanese government is set to include a reference to Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in its economic partnership agreement guidelines that are soon expected to receive Cabinet approval.