Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The Ministers’ Meeting over the weekend failed to reach a general agreement. First, can you please share your reaction?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, a Ministers’ Meeting was held over four days from July 28 to 31. The negotiations as a whole made considerable progress. However, some countries had conflicting interests with regard to the negotiations on market access for goods and on some intellectual property issues, and the negotiations failed to reach a conclusion. As a result, it was decided that the negotiations would continue. I understand that many points of contention were resolved at the recent Ministers’ Meeting, and that the Ministers were able to significantly reduce the number of remaining issues. I hope efforts will be made to realize the early conclusion of the negotiations based on the outcome of the latest meeting and while ensuring Japan’s national interests.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Minister Amari expressed hope that the Ministers’ Meeting will be reconvened as early as at the end of this month. In your opinion, how feasible is this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I expect that the Ministers will first bring back the remaining points of contention to their countries and then a Ministers’ Meeting will be held at an early date – by the end of August. I understand that this is the common understanding among the countries.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding WikiLeaks. Last weekend, WikiLeaks announced that the U.S. National Security Agency has wiretapped telephone conversations of the Japanese Government, the Bank of Japan, and Japanese companies since 2007. What is the Japanese Government’s reaction and response to this? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, I would like to refrain from commenting on the documents of unknown origin of WikiLeaks, which is a private organization. On that note, I would say that if it is true, as an ally this would be deeply regrettable. We are in contact with U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper over this matter. Japan will continue to strongly urge the United States to confirm the facts of this matter.

(Abridged)