Australia-Japan Free Trade Agreement

Report: Catherine Clifford
As Prime Minister Kevin Rudd goes into meetings today with his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo, an international relations expert says Australia and Japan will struggle to achieve a Free Trade Agreement.Japan is insisting agriculture be locked out of any deal.Professor Leszek Buszinski from the International University of Japan, says there are strong historic, cultural and economic reasons behind Japan's push."For cultural reasons there is a belief among the Japanese that rice production has to be protected, that Japanese rice is different from any other rice," he said.Professor Buszinski said the Japanese market is very protected, but over time that will change.He is advising Australian negotiators to use China as a trump card."The only way of dealing with the Japanese in this situation is to let them know that there are alternatives, and China is an alternative. If they don't agree or are unwilling to negotiate a free trade agreement with Australia then Australia may turn to china and that I think would jog them along a little."
In this report: Leszek Buszinski ,professor of international relations, International University of Japan