<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 19.2pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); ">Daily News<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 3pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 16.5pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; position: static; z-index: auto; "><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Japan Intensifies Consultations In Effort To Join TPP Negotiations By July<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 19.2pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Posted: April 3, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Japan is intensifying its engagement with current Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) members in an attempt to wrap up these consultations later this month and join the ongoing TPP negotiations as soon as July, according to a Japanese government official. TPP members have not announced a July round, but it is clearly under consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">In an interview with <i>Inside U.S. Trade</i>, the official said the Japanese government is aware of the fact that TPP members view the April 20-21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting of trade ministers as a possible forum for announcing that all TPP members agree to let Japan join the ongoing negotiations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">But he said it "would be nice" if TPP members could reach a group decision even before that meeting takes place, although the prospects for such swift results is unclear. The official conceded that Japan continues to hold consultations with the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, and signaled that Japanese efforts are focused on convincing these members.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">The official said the support of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore is almost guaranteed. Japan hopes to secure the formal support of four other TPP members -- Chile, Peru, Canada and Mexico -- this week in meetings taking place in those four countries, he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Japanese officials were scheduled to hold consultations yesterday (April 2) in Chile and in Peru today (April 3), but the visit is primarily aimed at confirming support from these countries, which are not expected to demand any actions by Japan as a condition for supporting Japan joining, he said. Officials from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also meet concurrently tomorrow (April 4) with their counterparts in Mexico and Canada.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Canada and Mexico are also not expected to complicate Japan's request to participate, the official said. Canada is already involved in bilateral trade negotiations with Japan, and Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast will visit Tokyo on April 10 to discuss the bilateral trade talks as well as Japan's possible participation in TPP, the official said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto will travel to Tokyo from April 7-10 to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The two leaders are expected to discuss Japan's TPP participation, which will be the first in-person meeting Abe will have with a current TPP member after he announced on March 15 his intention to join the TPP talks, observers said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Assuming no unexpected complications arise, that leaves the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; "> Japanese officials traveled to Australia and New Zealand late last month, but those meetings did not reach a conclusive result, in that neither country is yet ready to formally support Japan joining the talks and more talks are needed, the official said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Both Australia and New Zealand have a keen interest in gaining wider market access to sensitive Japanese agricultural sectors, including for dairy products and beef. Although talks with New Zealand continue, that country has clearly signaled that it is interested in incorporating Japan into the ongoing talks if possible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">For instance, New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser last week said he hoped that current TPP members would formally agree to let Japan join the TPP talks by the time of the April APEC summit, and said he expected all TPP members to respond favorably to Japan's bid to join the talks (<a href="http://insidetrade.com/Inside-US-Trade/Inside-U.S.-Trade-03/29/2013/groser-hopes-for-agreement-on-japans-tpp-entry-at-april-apec-meeting/menu-id-172.html" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; "><i><span style="color: black; ">Inside U.S. Trade</span></i><span style="color: black; ">, March 29</span></a>).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">When it comes to the U.S., Japan continues to discuss issues related to market access for U.S. automotive exports and market access for U.S. insurance companies. The official said the consultations are not over but added that Tokyo is trying to get approval from the U.S. as soon as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">The Japanese minister in charge of TPP affairs, Akira Amari, informally met with other Japanese ministers on March 27 to "exchange opinions" on TPP, the official said. However, one Japanese industry source said this meeting was meant to discuss how to accelerate the process of joining the TPP talks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">This source said Abe is frustrated that Japan is not making swifter progress in joining the talks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">One of the main issues driving Japan's desire to wrap up consultations as quickly as possible is the fact that even if all TPP members agree to let Japan join, the Obama administration is then expected to launch a 90-day period of consultations with Congress and the private sector before actually engaging with Japan in the TPP talks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">If this 90-day process commences by late April -- perhaps after the April 20-21 APEC ministers' summit -- there is a chance that Japan could participate in a possible July round of talks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">In a related development, the Japanese government is expected this week to fully establish</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; "> its TPP negotiating team, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in an April 2 press briefing. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Koji Tsuroka is expected to be named in coming days as Japan's chief TPP negotiator, sources said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">The TPP team will also include a chief domestic coordinator as its other main leader. This position is expected to manage the domestic political issues among the various ministries in areas such as agriculture and insurance that could arise during the course of the negotiations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">This position is expected to go to Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Toyonari Sasaki, sources said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">Abe has moved to create this separate TPP division in order to bypass the bureaucratic and political gridlock that may otherwise arise among various Japanese ministries. For example, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is likely to take a very defensive approach to negotiating market access (<a href="http://insidetrade.com/Inside-US-Trade/Inside-U.S.-Trade-03/22/2013/us-japan-take-dual-approach-in-tpp-talks-abe-sidesteps-ministries/menu-id-710.html" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; "><i><span style="color: black; ">Inside U.S. Trade</span></i><span style="color: black; ">, March 22</span></a>).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 1.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: 11.25pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: black; ">TPP negotiators are expected to report more directly to cabinet-level officials. The chief negotiator will report to Amari, the TPP minister, and the chief domestic coordinator will report to Suga, the chief cabinet secretary. Amari and Suga will subsequently report directly to the prime minister on the progress of the negotiations, the Japanese government official said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; line-height: normal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div></body></html>