今年の10-11月はTPPで結構忙殺されました。現時点の状況はご存じの通りです。
実は野田総理がハワイAPECで事前協議入りを表明した直後くらいに、「牽制の意味も込めて、日本の議員有志でアメリカの関係有力議員にレターを書いてみてはどうだろうか」と勝手に一人で思って、自分の思いをそれなりに纏めたレターを起案だけしてみました。結局、誰にも相談することなく、自分の中でもお蔵入りにしてしまったものなので、今となっては何の意味もないものです。
あの時点での思いをそれなりに書いたつもりです。１ヶ月強過ぎた今、見直してみると、「うーん、我ながら結構強気だ」ということと、「ドーハラウンドがあんなことになっているとは想像していなかった」という２点を強く感じます。出していたら「分かってないなあ」と恥をかくところでした。
ただ、折角起案したのに捨てるのももったいないような気がしたので、ここに書き残しておきたいと思います。とは言え、私は外務省ではフランス語だったので英語があまり上手くありません。もっと気の利いた表現を駆使できればいいのになあと慨嘆するばかりです。コメントは歓迎いたしますが、「英語が下手だ」というコメントは涙が出そうなのでご容赦下さい。
英語が苦手だという方は、グーグル等の検索システムを使って読んでみてください。私もやってみましたが「何となくこういうことが言いたいのだな」くらいのことは分かるようになっています。
We are so grateful to your huge interests with regard to our possible entry in the TPP negotiation that we find it appropriate to inform you of our interests. Please take note that this letter only reflects points of view of MPs, who are not currently in the government.
Through TPP negotiation, we will be aiming at a broad-based and high standard regional economic cooperation. Our shared final target is to realize FTAAP in a harmonious manner. Open and transparent FTAAP would contribute to the development and prosperity in Asia-Pacific region. To achieve this goal, we share the view that TPP is a possible option among others.
However, emphasis should be placed upon the need to conclude WTO Doha-Round. Japan and US have played, we are convinced, a driving and central role in promoting a world-wide trade regime with a view to incorporating all countries and regions on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit within the global trade system. This ideal should not be abandoned even in difficulties, as we are experiencing in Geneva. We would like to encourage US to speed up Doha-Round negotiations, for the success of which we promise to bring meaningful and concrete contributions.
At the break of our new process in TPP, we should have our common understanding on the procedures and possible goals, as follows.
- We are ready for putting all issues and items on the table, but without any pre-fixed conditions. But a strict equal-footing must be kept by all the present members. We have so many concerns, as you have for us, on US domestic measures which prevent Japanese companies from equal competition. We are completely sure that all domestic and border barriers of your country will be subject to discussions.
- Following the above, we are totally against any down-payment in advance of the official negotiation.
- At least, the presence of Canada, Mexico, Thailand and Indonesia will be required for TPP to be a really “Asia-Pacific” pact. South-Korea and China should be also welcome in the future.
- Consensus-based negotiation should be indispensable for the success of TPP. “Give and Take” is an only approach to the final destination.
We support the decision of Prime Minister Noda to get engaged in TPP. Differently from US Congress, which has a power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, as stipulated in the Constitution, Government-Diet relation in Japan is based on the parliamentary cabinet system. We are in a position to support, by instructing, the government in elaborating its negotiating position and strategy.
Since you have shown interests on our possible entry, we are open to any opportunity of opinion exchange at Diet member-level. Very rigid and formal discussions between both governments are not always sufficient to find a breakthrough, as you know. Your active commitment in close contact with us will be welcome. Such an approach would make TPP negotiation more fruitful and successful.
来年年始からアメリカに行ってきます。TPP関係者と会う機会があるでしょうから、政府の立場と離れてこういう内容のことを言い放ってこようと思っています。