Japanese Prime Minister vows to step up efforts to join Pacific trade pact

Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Tuesday vowed to step up his push for the country to join a trans-Pacific free trade pact, despite vehement opposition from farmers fearing cheaper imports. "I want to make (this year) the first year of the opening up of the country," Kan said in his New Year remarks, comparing the move to previous reform eras in the late 1800s and after World War II.
Kan has advocated that Japan join the US-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) being debated by nine countries, but has faced harsh criticism from the country's inefficient, ageing farm sector which fears annihilation. The centre-left premier said that, in order for Japan to reach another stage of high economic growth, "we have to accomplish two things - revive our agriculture and speed up trade liberalisation".
"We are considering concrete measures on agriculture, which are needed when we join the TPP," Kan said. "We aim to make a final decision around June. I hope we can be in that position as soon as possible." Measures would include incentives to encourage the younger generations to become engaged in the nation's farm sector, Kan said, adding that he wants to achieve "fundamental reforms" in agriculture.
The average age of Japanese farmers is 65, compared with Japan's overall average age of 45. Their income has halved over two decades while Japan's food self-sufficiency ratio dropped to 40 percent from 73 percent in 1965. The island nation - often citing food-security and cultural reasons - has long protected its now highly inefficient rice farmers against cheaper grain from big producers such as the United States, Australia and Vietnam.