Trade officials from United States and Japan are to meet in Tokyo “to complete a bilateral agreement over access to Japan’s automotive and agricultural markets,” said the New York Times. The long-sought agreement is part of the wrap-up of the mammoth Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact that would encompass 40 percent of the world’s economy. “People with knowledge of those talks say the Obama administration is satisfied with Japan’s offer on auto and auto parts exports, as well as pork, beef and wheat. But Japan’s continued protection of rice farming remains a sticking point,” says the Times.
Large obstacles to the 12-nation pact remain. “The dispute over access to Canada’s protected dairy and poultry markets is so fierce that some participants say they believe Canada could drop out of the talks,” said the Times. Canadian Press says Japan is challenging Canadian lumber protections while the United States “has taken aim at the coveted supply management system that protects the country’s dairy and poultry industry.” Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who faces parliamentary elections in October, says he will protect the supply management system while proceeding with TPP. “Supply management in sacrosanct in Ontario and Quebec, and so is the forestry sector is in B.C. [British Columbia],” said Canadian Press.
A ministerial meeting is planned for July 28 and 29 in Hawaii to conclude the TPP negotiations, said the Kyodo news service.