After four years of negotiating for the removal of all trade tariffs as a key part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), U.S. farmers are angry that Japan is signaling it aims to keep some trade barriers in place, in a move that could unravel the entire agreement. The TPP would encompass 12 global economies, or two fifths of the global economy through the elimination of trade tariffs and barriers and the regulation of standards. The original goal of the complete removal of tariffs has recently been softened after a summit meeting in April between President Obama and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. A compromise seems likely that would allow Japan to maintain protectionist tariffs on items such as beef, sugar, dairy and wheat. In response U.S. farmers have threatened to remove their support for the trade deal and farm groups have called for the removal of Japan from the agreement entirely. Without the support of the powerful U.S farm lobby, the TPP could be stalled in Congress. To read further about the ongoing TPP negotiations and political implications of losing farmer support for the agreement:
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