Japan's top trade negotiator vows not to sacrifice farming in Japan-US talks
At a news conference on Tuesday, Economic Revitalization Minister Akazawa Ryosei was asked about a social media post by US President Donald Trump.
The post in question read that Japan "won't take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage."
Akazawa said agriculture forms the foundation of the nation.
He said it is an extremely important task for the government and the ruling coalition to create an environment where farmers feel secure and can continue their work.
He said both Japanese and US teams have continued sincere discussions toward a potential deal, but still remain at odds on some points and are yet to reach an agreement as a package.
Akazawa said he hopes to work vigorously toward a deal that is beneficial to both sides, while protecting Japan's interests.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Nikkei Asia
3 hours ago
- Nikkei Asia
Chinese regulator approves ANA takeover of Nippon Cargo
ANA Holdings originally announced the plan to buy Nippon Cargo Airlines in 2023 but postponed the deal eight times, citing regulatory delays. (Photo by Makoto Okada) BEIJING (Reuters) -- China's market regulator said on Tuesday it has approved ANA Holdings' acquisition of Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) with conditions, including a set of binding commitments to preserve fair competition in the China-Japan air cargo market. The Chinese regulator's approval has cleared the way for ANA, Japan's largest airline, to buy NCA to bolster international cargo operations, after multiple delays. In a statement, the State Administration for Market Regulation said ANA, NCA and their merged entity must continue to honor existing agreements for cargo ground handling at the Tokyo area's Narita Airport and the Osaka area's Kansai Airport. The decision was made to ensure the smooth operation of bilateral trade and safeguard the stability of regional industrial and supply chains, the regulator said. With the green light from the Chinese authority, ANA is set to acquire NCA from current parent Nippon Yusen, Japan's largest shipping line, on Aug. 1, it said. ANA announced the plan to acquire NCA in 2023 but has postponed the execution eight times, most recently June 25, citing delays in regulatory processes. Japan Fair Trade Commission, the country's market watchdog, had approved the takeover plan in January.
NHK
4 hours ago
- NHK
Job hunting for high school seniors starts in Japan amid labor shortage
The job hunting season has started in Japan for next year's high school graduates. A continued labor shortage is expected to result in high demand for high school graduates. Companies began submitting their job offers to high schools on Tuesday, effectively opening the job hunting season for next spring's graduates. The ratio of job offers to seekers is expected to remain high for next year's graduates. In March this year, there were 41 job openings for every 10 seekers. At a high school in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward, company officials were submitting their job listings on Tuesday. The school is receiving offers from a wide range of industries including the service and manufacturing sectors. It said some companies have raised their monthly wage for new recruits by up to 30,000 yen, or about 210 dollars. A human resources official at a logistics company said many firms are stepping up their efforts to hire high school graduates. The official said her company hopes to increase new recruits by raising wages and improving employee benefits. As of March last year, 38.4 percent of high school graduates had quit their jobs within three years after they began working. The percentage was higher than that of university graduates.
Japan Times
4 hours ago
- Japan Times
Hong Kong rights record under fire as it marks China handover anniversary
Hong Kong leader John Lee insisted the city has become safer and more competitive as he commemorated the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule Tuesday, while critics said repression has eroded the hub's international reputation. The former British colony was handed over to China in 1997 under a "One Country, Two Systems" governance model, which guaranteed key freedoms and a high degree of autonomy not enjoyed on the mainland. In previous years, the July 1 anniversary drew demonstrations and marches from Victoria Park. But authorities have cracked down on dissent after huge and sometimes violent democracy protests in 2019. Lee said "high-level security to safeguard high-quality development" was a top priority for his administration, noting the need to integrate into China's economic blueprint. "We have endeavored to trawl for talent," he said, adding that the arrival of over 210,000 workers has boosted the city's competitiveness. This week also marks the fifth anniversary of Beijing's imposition of a sweeping national security law, under which 76 people have been convicted so far. Lee's government enacted a separate security law of its own in 2024 saying it was needed to restore order. "We have rebuilt a safe Hong Kong," Lee said. However, the European Union said on Monday "the repressive use of the National Security Law has undermined confidence in the rule of law and Hong Kong's international reputation." "The European Union regrets that additional national security legislation ... introduced new offenses, increased penalties and further empowered security authorities," it said in a statement. The League of Social Democrats, one of Hong Kong's last remaining opposition parties, disbanded on Sunday citing "immense political pressure" and concern for the safety of its members. It was the second pro-democracy party to announce plans to wind down this year, after the Democratic Party did so in February. Outgoing U.S. consul general Gregory May also criticized the Hong Kong government last week for using the security law to target overseas activists. On Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning accused "certain Western politicians and anti-China organizations" of "slandering Hong Kong's rule of law". "Their actions clearly expose their malicious intent to sow chaos in Hong Kong," said Mao, adding that rights and freedoms legally enjoyed by Hong Kong people have been "fully protected". Hong Kong leader Lee also trumpeted a plan to urbanize land near the border with China, a development known as the Northern Metropolis that will take up a third of the city's total area. Activists and locals have raised concerns over its potential environmental impact as well as the strain it will put on Hong Kong's public finances.
