Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: If I may confirm one item with regard to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). I believe that the Japanese government's operating team has not yet been formally established. However, as of right now, the experts on the United States (U.S.) side seem to be of the view that consultations with Japan have already started. Is the Japanese Government of the view that consultations with relevant countries started already, or is it of the view that Japan has not yet entered into consultations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I understand that according to reports, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk told reporters on November 30, local time, that the U.S. started its outreach with stakeholders with respect to the procedures for a Federal Register notice and consultations with the U.S. Congress. Either way, Japan will start consultations with relevant countries toward participating in the TPP negotiations and strive to collect further information on what each country would expect from Japan. Through sufficient national debates, a conclusion will be reached on the TPP faithfully from the perspective of our national interests. While a national team has not yet been finalized, we are continuing to collect information and so on as before. In fact, the overall process is likely to start early in the new year. Japan will not be participating in the next meeting with the relevant countries that will be held this month. Therefore, Japan still remains to continue on with the information gathering we have been conducting to date.

(Abridged)