I want the LDP to comply with at least the
ISD or ISDS (Investor State Dispute Settlement) provision in the below criteria
5.
Although from the beginning I knew that the
party won’t comply with the provision, I’m offering my opinion. LDP states the criterion on the official
website.
If LDP neglects or reneges on the provisions
in 1 – 6 “criteria for judgment with regard to participation in TPP negotiations,”
Prime Minister Abe will definitely go down in the history as a traitor to
Japan. On-line right-wingers, you
understand?
Masatoshi
Takeshita
March
4, 2013
English translation of LDP website: Lib Dems
View
on TPP
LDP has
clarified the criteria for judgment with regard to participation in TPP negotiations.
* We have not won the public understanding
of TPP due to critical shortage of information on it. Additionally, the government seems never to
have made efforts to improve the situation.
Therefore, national debate on what to accept and what to protect based
on national interests has not sufficiently been made yet.
*Ahead of APEC in November of last year,
Prime Minister Noda expressed “We will start to negotiate with the relevant
countries (for participation in TPP negotiations).” This is an intentionally ambiguous expression
in consideration of domestic situation, and judging from diplomatic common
sense, we have to say that negotiation will practically start with a prior
consultation.
*There are many conceivable options and
processes on the Asia-Pacific economic partnership (e.g. ASEAN+3/+6). Our party has also shared the need to create
such partnership with relevant countries and domestic groups. Additionally, it is necessary to steadily
promote the Japan-EU economic partnership and the Japan-China/Korea partnership.
*Needless to say, it is necessary to
further strengthen economic ties with the U.S. so that Asia will maintain a
position as global economic growth center.
Our country should take the initiative in promoting economic development
in Asia-Pacific areas including the U.S.
*In consideration of these, our party will clarify the criteria for judgment with regard
to participation in TPP negotiations.
—————————————-
Criteria
for judgment with regard to participation in TPP talks
1.
As long as the government
insists on the premise of “abolition of tariffs without exceptions,” LDP will oppose
to any negotiations.
2.
We will never accept any
numerical targets for industrial products including automobiles, which are
inconsistent with the idea of free trade.
3.
We will protect the universal
healthcare system.
4.
We will protect food safety
standards.
5.
We will never
agree on ISD (Note) which is threatened to infringe our national sovereignty.
6.
We will take into consideration
national characteristics of government procurement and financial services.
(Note)
ISD provision – Provision
that in case that any detrimental situation should occur due to a
discriminatory policy of a foreign government, the corporation in question,
Investor, will be granted with the right to Dispute with the other State over compensation
for damage caused by discrimination.
There is a possibility that abuse of this provision will make the
Investor take legal action against regulations on social security, food safety
and environmental conservation established by the government and local
municipalities.
—————————————-
Our party will strongly
urge the government to comply with the above criteria for judgment so that the
government may never repeat easily compromising on the conditions for
participating in negotiations behind the people’s backs while lying to them just
the same as in November.
Leave a Reply