Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Japan's consultations toward participating in the TPP negotiations with the countries concerned including the U.S.

REPORTER: I have a question relating to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. At the time of the Cabinet reshuffle in June, there was a partial change to the Cabinet ministers involved in the TPP consultations. Following this change to the membership of the ministers involved, what is the Government's current target for coming to a conclusion on the matter of participating in the TPP negotiations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: At the current point we are at a position where we have received explanations from the United States Government, which has noted that in certain fields such as automobiles and insurance, there is strong interest being expressed by the Congress and interested parties in the United States. It is presently the case that various discussions and interactions are taking place with regard to these points. The Government is in the process of continuously engaging in consultations with the countries concerned, including the United States, towards participating in the TPP negotiations. However, with regard to the question of when this will be, to the extent that the various discussions on the matters of interest to the United States remain ongoing, it is also a fact that progress to the next stage has yet to be achieved.

(Abridged)