Japan and the United States resumed talks on the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership trade pact, “but the outcome of the negotiations remains unclear with political difficulties mounting for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and indications of growing opposition in the United States,” says Japan Times. It was the first session in about a month. At the previous meeting, Japan reportedly offered to cut its tariff on beef to 9 percent over a 15-year period if it was given the right to raise the tariff to 20 percent if the domestic beef industry was in peril, said the newspaper. Japan has been reluctant to remove protection for its “sacred five” ag sectors — beef and pork, rice, wheat, sugar and dairy products.
U.S. farm groups have argued there is no reason to keep Japan in the TPP talks without market-opening concessions. Japanese ag groups say they may oppose TPP if Japan gives up too much on agriculture. Japan holds local elections next month, which could determine how much maneuvering room Abe has in trade talks.