Japanese Trade Union Confederation (RENGO)

Statement on the Signing of the TPP Agreement (the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement)

1. On February 4, the 12 countries that have participated in the TPP negotiations signed the final text of the TPP Agreement in New Zealand. Since agreement on the broad outlines of the partnership was reached in October last year, we have requested that the government make appropriate information disclosure and explanation of the partnership to the people of Japan, but there have been insufficient efforts by the government to assist understanding of the content of the agreement by the people of Japan and to alleviate anxiety and concerns regarding the agreement’s impacts.


2. The Japanese government, now that the final wording of the agreement has been reached, intends to submit a bill requesting approval of the agreement and other related bills to the Diet. In the Diet, the government should fulfill its responsibility to provide explanations, including taking pains to give complete and comprehensible explanations to the people of Japan, while clarifying the details of the content, interpretations and other matters regarding the agreement.


3. In November last year, the government published an “Outline of comprehensive policies related to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) accord,” in which the government stated that it would finalize an agriculture, forestry and fisheries growth strategy and the necessary industrial policies with a target of around the fall of this year. The government is requested to forge sufficient countermeasures for matters of concern that are likely to have impacts on the daily lives of the people of Japan, especially regarding crucial matters related to the basis of a secure society, including the food and agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector, such as food safety and security. Furthermore, with regard to the analysis of the economic effect of the TPP Agreement, published in December last year, it is necessary to conduct further detailed studies on the appropriateness of the agreement, including validation by third-party organizations.


4. In order that the TPP Agreement will contribute not only to Japan’s sustainable growth and employment creation, but also to just and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region and the realization of decent work, JTUC-RENGO, while coordinating with related organizations such as the Democratic party of Japan and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), will examine in detail the matters of concern that are likely to have impacts on the daily lives of the people of Japan and the countermeasures for these, and will request the government to take the necessary actions.