Japan’s government has slowed its process for approving the Trans Pacific Partnership, despite that fact that a formal debate has already begun in Japan’s national Diet. The current legislative session is scheduled to end on June 1 and Japan’s lawmakers are unlikely to take a vote until they reconvene in mid-September, according to a Politico report.
An earthquake in April in Japan has diverted legislative attention to recovery efforts in the country’s Kumamoto region. Election politics are also at play with an upper house election set for July. Some lawmakers are suggesting that Japan’s Prime Minister Abe may wish to time Japan’s ratification with that of the United States and the Prime Minister may also be looking to avoid or minimize antagonizing Japan’s powerful agriculture sector. The agriculture sector, which could suffer as a result of ratifying TPP, is a large supporter of Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party.
Meanwhile, President Obama has been in Vietnam this week with U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman as well as several Democratic lawmakers who could provide support for a U.S. TPP vote. President Obama will also be visiting Japan and TPP is a major theme on his trip.
Traveling with the president are Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), who has voted in support of trade promotion authority (TPA) legislation. Texas Democratic Representatives Beto O’Rourke and Joaquin Castro are also traveling with the president. O’Rourke was one of 28 House Democrats to support TPA. Castro voted against the TPA bill but was on the fence until the ninth hour. Castro will likely be targeted for a TPP vote should it come up before the end of the year
