Trans-Pacific Partnership

[tropicalescape]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

What might be the final weeks of negotiation over the TPP has started.

The first event is negotiations, in Tokyo, between Japan and USA that started on Thursday 9 July and are scheduled to finish on Friday 10 July.


Of the 12 players in the TPP negotiations, the economic relationship between Japan and USA is the only big relationship. For the other 11 players, their trade with the US is small compared to their trade with China (which is, of course, not in the TPP negotiations, because ... well ... the easy explanation is that the TPP is a part of the last stand by a fading US empire to contain the rise of China ... as such, TPP is only marginally about trade; it's more a political institutional thing. Note that sometimes last stands are successful. Don't judge all last stands by Custer's.)


After the two day Nippon-USA love-in, the next TPP events are scheduled to be held in Hawai'i. First, a preliminary meeting to make sure everyone is on the same page, on 24 July. Second on 28-31 July, the trade ministers of all 12 participants in the negotiations meet, with the dream of a signing and happy face photo facility on the final day.


Of course, Barry Obama is hoping he will be able to make a big announcement very soon after (just in time for Hiroshima Day or perhaps Nagasaki Day?).


See: Japan, US working-level TPP talks resume - News - NHK WORLD - English


To revise: the 'trade' portions of what USA wants from the TPP have long been public. The US has until now been the only transparent player in the game. For the US aims, see: https://ustr.gov/tpp/Summary-of-US-objectives


There's a lot to read on the USTR page. Note particularly the detail about State Owned Enterprises. If opportunity is kind, I'll write more about SOEs from the Asian economies' perspectives later.


Nippon is by nature a much less transparent polity and society. We've all known or guessed that Japan's objectives have included: 1. maintaining some level of protection for local rice farmers; 2. maintaining protection on select other sectors (sugar, some service sectors); and 3. gain immediate access for Japanese auto parts exported into the US.


Surprisingly, the Japan media has yesterday (9 July) and today been quite forthright on the Japanese negotiation position.


1. On rice, the US wants to sell an extra 200K tonnes of rice to Japan. Japan is prepared to accept only 50K tonnes and is prepared to buy from Australia 12% of whatever rice the US sells.


2. On auto parts, the US wants to keep a 2.5% tariff it levies on Japanese auto parts (engines, gearboxes, power steering units and 297 other specified auto parts) for at least 10 more years to protect the US auto industry. Japan wants that time period cut to 5 years (or shorter, they dream).


See:


Japan, U.S. resume talks ahead of TPP ministerial session in late July - 毎日新�


and


Japan, US officials to resume TPP trade talks - News - NHK WORLD - English


Al

"Last stand by a fading US" So you are one of those that think when a country rises another will fall..Should have waited a few days before stating that(or if you really knew what was going on you wouldnt have stated it at all considering Chinas stock market has been sliding toward the bottom since the start of June)..You let us know when the USofA hits the bottom and China or any other country becomes a "Super Power"..Considering that the US will soon get a good look at the last sizeable chunk of realestate in the (our) universe soon maybe we will slow down and allow the rest of those that have an interest in such other worldly events a chance to "CATCH UP", nah we will just keep going and maybe we will see you guys out there in another hundred years.."fading US" thats rich, real rich...

[Alan Mighty]

The Atlanta meeting of ministers negotiating the TPP agreement seems likely to arrive at a workable fix on Saturday October 3 (US) time.

Malaysian negotiator reported concerns about State Owned Enterprises that may be enough to scuttle Malaysia's participation.

On other issues, the Saturday (Japan time) report in Mainichi Shimbun provides fair coverage: Japan cites progress on drug patents, dairy produce in TPP talks - 毎日新�

"Japan cites progress on drug patents, dairy produce in TPP talks

ATLANTA (Kyodo) -- Twelve Pacific Rim countries on Friday continued last-minute efforts for the conclusion of a free trade initiative, with a Japanese official hailing progress on thorny issues such as drug patents and market access for dairy product.

"Every country is working toward a closure so we can hold a joint press conference tomorrow," Akira Amari, Japanese minister in charge of the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, told reporters ahead of a ministerial plenary session.

The countries concerned have made progress over the issue of drug patents, automotive trades and tariffs on dairy products, Amari said.

"We've made a big leap on automobiles," Amari said. Negotiations through Friday evening have led Canada and Mexico to "considerably understand" Japanese positions, Amari said.

The United States, Japan, Canada and Mexico still have differences over the local-content ratio for automotive components to avoid or reduce duties within the envisioned TPP zone.

The countries discussing how long the patents of new biologic drugs should be protected have "come closer" to an agreement, Amari said.

Australian trade minister Andrew Robb said the United States proposed shortening the period of new drug patents protection from 12 years to effectively eight years, in an apparent concession to Australia and other countries that have called the 12-year period too long.

"But that's unsatisfactory," Robb said in Atlanta. Australia and other countries demand the period be no longer than five years to help encourage the production of cheaper generic medicine.

Robb expressed his eagerness to finally reach an agreement on drug patents, saying, "I see a path forward."

Amari also mentioned progress over the issue of market access for dairy products over which New Zealand has disputes with Japan, the United States, Canada and Mexico.

New Zealand "can almost see a goal within sight with Japan, Canada and Mexico. The (remaining) task is relations between New Zealand and the United States," Amari said.

The countries involved held a series of working-level consultations, both bilaterally and multilaterally, ahead of a plenary ministerial session Friday evening, the first such meeting on the third day of the latest negotiations in Atlanta, Japanese officials said.

The United States started the TPP negotiations in 2010 with Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Canada, Japan, Mexico and Malaysia joined the talks later.

October 03, 2015 (Mainichi Japan)"

Al

[Alan Mighty]

This really should be moved to a Joke thread!

A committee within the Diet in Japan is currently considering legislation to prepare for the introduction of the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) should the US houses of congress ever approve the TPP.


The loyal opposition party is calling foul - they are being asked to pass legislation without knowing the detail of the TPP negotiated agreement.


Point your browser to this NHK (Nippon Broadcasting, the govt broadcaster) webpage to see the joke: Japan's opposition requires more info on TPP talks - News - NHK WORLD - English

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Given the lack of transparency, it's difficult to form a rational opinion.

The TPP is the world's largest economic trade agreement that will, if it comes into force, encompass more than 40 per cent of the world's GDP.
Despite the wide-ranging effects on the global population, the TPP is currently being negotiated in total secrecy by 12 countries. Few people, even within the negotiating countries' governments, have access to the full text of the draft agreement and the public, who it will affect most, none at all. Large corporations, however, are able to see portions of the text, generating a powerful lobby to effect changes on behalf of these groups and bringing developing country members reduced force, while the public at large gets no say.
➥ https://wikileaks.org/tpp-ip2/

GREAT GORD

Once again condensing 10,000 years of human social development into a few short sentences. Why don't you run for president? Better than any of the jokers running.

[Brob2]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

GREAT GORD

Once again condensing 10,000 years of human social development into a few short sentences. Why don't you run for president? Better than any of the jokers running.

I'm sure he would but he can''t 'cause he's like Cruz and Obama- he wasn't born in the USA. So we gonna' keep him here!

[tropicalescape]

TPP and the New Silk Road..When all of this is said and done the world will be one giant step closer to becoming a "one world unified front" set to take on the likes of those damn Martians and Plutonians..Bring it on im tired of fighting and killing my own kind,im ready to shed some of that Martian blood !