Wall Street Journal: Japan Makes Early Push in Asia to Ratify TPP Trade Deal

10/14/2016

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October 14th, 2016| BY: Mitsuru Obe
The Japanese government on Friday urged Parliament to approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal quickly, showing the drive in Asia to keep it alive despite opposition from U.S. presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. “Japan’s ratification would give an impetus for early ratification in the United States,” said Nobuteru Ishihara, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s minister in charge of TPP, as lawmakers opened deliberations. Some other participants in the 12-nation pact including Australia are also pressing ahead with ratification, although not as quickly as Japan. Mr. Abe’s government wants to enact the TPP legislation before the U.S. Congress begins a lame-duck session on Nov. 14. The push comes despite the seemingly definitive statements from both Mr. Trump, the Republican nominee, and Mrs. Clinton, the Democrat, that they are against TPP, as well as strong opposition in Congress from both parties. Officials in Japan and Australia say they hold out hope that once the U.S. political season is over, a lame-duck session while President Barack Obama is still in office might offer a window for ratification. To read the full article, please click here.