Japan deal on autos trade would be backed by penalties

Malaysia’s decision to stay or quit the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) – a trade deal involving 12 Pacific Rim countries – is now in the hands of the Prime Minister.

Or as Ontario Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal told CBC-TV: “If we have a balanced trade deal that respects and maintains the integrity of the supply management system and provides market access to those commodities not covered by supply management, there should be no need for compensation”.

“As you participate in Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations this week in Atlanta, I wish to advise you that an NDP government will not consider itself bound to any agreement signed by your Conservative government during this federal election”, Mr. Mulcair writes.

One official from the biggest USA business lobby present at the talks, however, said it’s urgent to get a deal now – because she said failure in Atlanta could permanently doom the decade-long initiative. “TPP is larger than that, even with the current dairy deal”.

Japan and the USA hope to take charge of the proceedings and lead talks to a conclusion, said Tami Overby, senior vice president for Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“Voters are opposed to TPP, and the Administration and Congress should listen to what they have to say”, said Khristyn Brimmeier, communications director for the group, which is made up of labor, environmental, and public health advocacy organizations. “NAFTA taught us a generation ago that free trade protects and creates jobs and opportunities”.

The bilateral deal between the United States and Japan would include a first-of-its-kind dispute resolution mechanism that would impose penalties if Japan were judged to have fallen short of its commitments, the second person said. The way that rule is implemented means that just over half of a vehicle needs to be manufactured locally.

Several Republicans attacked a new USA proposal to ensure governments would be free to enact anti-smoking measures without fear of legal action by tobacco firms.

“Ten Presidential candidates have pushed anti-TPP messages in their campaigning, stoking voters” ire about the pact”, Wallach said.

He said while the Government had a responsibility to do the best it could for the dairy industry, it could not ignore benefits to other industries. He was unapologetic when Japanese media said New Zealand had been criticised for the level of access it wanted. But the trade deal is seen as a threat by an array of interest groups from Mexican auto workers to Quebec dairy farmers to cancer patients who worry that it could push the cost of new therapies out of reach. “By the late evening we could have clarity”, said one person involved in the closed-door discussions.

Canada is expected to open up the highly sheltered sector to more imports, but has balked at the amounts proposed by other countries.