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On December 5, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the sixth meeting of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Task Force at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, a discussion was held on the draft revisions to the Comprehensive TPP-Related Policy Framework.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
The Japan-U.S. Trade Agreement and the Japan-U.S. Digital Trade Agreement were approved in the Diet yesterday. We will carry out the necessary procedures for the agreements to enter into force from January next year. If we add the TPP11 Agreement (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) and the Japan-EU (European Union) EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) which are already in effect, to them, it will give birth to a free economic zone led by Japan, which covers approximately 60% of the global economy. They are a powerful engine for the future growth of Japan’s economy. While making the most of this opportunity, we must ease the remaining concerns of the public. For that reason, we have revised the Comprehensive TPP-Related Policy Framework. We intend to develop new markets overseas for Japanese businesses and Japanese products, including medium-sized and small-scale enterprises and strengthen the competitiveness of domestic industries. In addition, by strengthening the production bases of the agriculture, forestry and fishery industry, we will strive to build strong farming, mountain and fishing villages.
 
With a view to implementing this framework swiftly, we will thoroughly include it into the economic policy package to be approved by Cabinet decision after this, and strongly advance these measures utilizing this fiscal year’s supplementary budget.
 
I ask the ministers to work as one on the various policies in accordance with the framework.”