[CTC] Minister: TPP failure in Atlanta would extend negotiations for years

[Arthur Stamoulis]

No deal at next TPP talks to extend negotiations for years: minister

http://sp.mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150918p2g00m0bu053000c.html <http://sp.mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150918p2g00m0bu053000c.html>
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese minister in charge of negotiations for a Pacific Rim free trade initiative said Friday that talks on the free trade deal will not be concluded anytime soon if the 12 member countries fail to strike an accord at an upcoming meeting starting late September.

"There is a risk that an agreement will be put off for years" if no deal is reached at the next session, Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Akira Amari said at a press conference.

A two-day meeting of ministers from the United States, Japan, Canada and nine other nations negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership will begin Sept. 30 in Atlanta, as they seek to conclude years of talks on creating one of the world's biggest free trade zones, a negotiation source said earlier this week.

The new framework would have a significant impact on the global economy, as the free trade zone would cover 40 percent of worldwide output.

The minister referred to a general election in Canada slated for Oct. 19 as a possible challenge that could derail efforts by the TPP members to reach a deal as early as possible. Canada could change its trade policy under a new government that could be established following the election.

A TPP meeting ahead of the election will be "a last chance" to discuss remaining issues with the current representatives from the 12 countries also including Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru and Singapore, Amari said.

Even with the present negotiating members, discussions for a final deal will not be easy, Amari added. Many countries find it hard to concede on outstanding issues, he added.

Vietnam, Malaysia and Mexico are also among the countries taking part in the trade talks that began in 2010. The 12 countries failed to reach a broad agreement on the trade initiative during their previous ministerial talks in late July in Hawaii.

2015年09月18日


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