日韓ＦＴＡ 未来志向で早期妥結をめざせ

農家への個別所得補償制度には反対です。農産物の貿易自由化の足かせとなるからです。結局は国民の税金から負担される訳ですから。農産物の貿易自由化は世界の潮流です。日本だけ特別扱いは許されないでしょう。
所得補償制度を漁業や他の産業に拡大する動きに対しても同じ理由で反対します。
(srachai from khonkaen, thailand)

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 20, 2010)
Get wheels turning on S. Korea trade talks
日韓ＦＴＡ　未来志向で早期妥結をめざせ（8月19日付・読売社説）

Japanese and South Korean industrial circles both hope talks between their governments over a free trade agreement will be concluded soon, according to a recent survey conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun and a leading South Korean business daily.
　日本と韓国の産業界は共に、自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）に関する交渉の早期妥結を望んでいることがわかった。

Responding to the poll taken by the Yomiuri and The Korea Economic Daily, more than 80 percent of 200 major Japanese and South Korean corporations said they thought a free trade accord between the two countries was "necessary." However, bilateral negotiations on a trade deal have been suspended since 2004.
　読売新聞社と韓国経済新聞社が実施したアンケート調査で、双方の主要企業２００社の８割超が、２００４年から交渉が中断している日韓ＦＴＡについて、「必要だ」と答えている。

We welcome the readiness expressed by these corporations to deepen relations in a future-oriented manner while competing yet coexisting in observing this year's centennial of Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula.
　日韓併合１００年という節目を迎え、両国の企業が未来志向で関係を深め、競争と共存を図ろうとする姿勢を歓迎したい。

A free trade agreement is a treaty between two or more nations and territories seeking to reduce or abolish tariffs on industrial, agricultural and other products. Such an accord can do much to expand trade.
　ＦＴＡは、特定の国や地域間で鉱工業品や農産物の関税を引き下げたり、撤廃したりすることだ。貿易を拡大する効果がある。

The current round of multilateral trade talks under the World Trade Organization has been stalled due to conflicting interests among WTO member nations. This has given rise to a sharp increase in the number of free trade pacts and economic partnership agreements aimed at expanding the scope of cooperation to include increased investment and other activities. In fact, about 200 FTA and EPA accords have come into effect around the world.
　世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）の多国間の貿易自由化交渉は、利害の対立で暗礁に乗り上げた。そこで世界で急増しているのが、ＦＴＡや投資拡大などに協力分野を広げた経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）で、すでに約２００が発効した。

Japan lagging others

However, free trade agreement negotiations between Tokyo and Seoul have been left behind by the trend of the times. The gridlock in bilateral talks can be attributed to Japan's objection to market liberalization targeting farm and marine products, as well as South Korea's concern that its trade deficit with Japan could widen.
　ところが、日韓交渉はそうした流れに取り残され、行き詰まっている。日本が農水産物の市場開放に抵抗し、韓国は対日赤字全体の拡大を警戒しているためだ。

A six-year hiatus in bilateral talks is too long. The Japanese and South Korean governments should live up to the expectations of their respective industrial circles when they meet for working-level talks aimed at resuming the negotiations, probably in September.
　約６年にも及ぶ中断は余りにも長い。両国は９月にも、交渉再開に向けた実務協議を開くが、産業界の期待に応える必要がある。

Japan's slowness in forming economic partnerships with other countries is exemplified not only by its failure to break the impasse in trade talks with South Korea. This lack of progress is also evident in Tokyo's delay in forming similar ties with other nations and territories.
　日本の経済連携の動きは、対韓国ばかりでなく、他国・地域との間でも出遅れが目立つ。

Japan has signed economic partnership agreements with 11 economies, including Singapore and Mexico, that have already taken effect. This nation is struggling to make headway in striking EPA deals with such agricultural powers as Australia and India. It is unknown whether or when the Japanese government will be able to sit at the negotiating table for trade pact talks with the United States and the European Union.
　ＥＰＡ発効・署名国は、シンガポール、メキシコなど１１か国・地域にとどまり、農業大国の豪州やインドとの交渉も難航中だ。米国や欧州連合（ＥＵ）については、交渉のメドさえたたない。

DPJ policy won't help

Dogged resistance from the domestic agricultural sector has been a stumbling block to efforts to open this country's market for farm imports.
　農業分野の市場開放について、日本国内の抵抗が強いことが、いつも足かせになっている。

The Democratic Party of Japan-led government has introduced an income compensation system for individual rice farming households. However, this lavish handout policy will do nothing to increase the nation's agricultural competitiveness in preparation for trade liberalization.
　民主党政権は、コメ農家を対象にした戸別所得補償制度を導入した。しかし、バラマキ政策では、貿易自由化に備えた農業の競争力強化にはつながらない。

The government likely will expand the income compensation program to include fishermen and other workers. This kind of protective policy must be wisely used to help pry open the domestic market.
　政府は所得補償制度を漁業などにも拡充する方針だが、こうした保護策を市場開放に向けて活用する道を探らねばなるまい。

Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa, an envoy chosen from the private sector, has expressed a desire to kick off free trade talks between Tokyo and Beijing. Progress in negotiations between Tokyo and Seoul could jump-start similar talks between Japan and China--and even free trade talks involving all three nations.
　民間出身の丹羽中国大使は、日中ＦＴＡ交渉の開始に意欲を表明した。日韓ＦＴＡを前進できれば、日中や「日中韓」のＦＴＡ交渉の足がかりにもなる。

South Korea has reached free trade agreements with the United States and the EU. If Seoul gets a head start on Tokyo in starting talks with China, it would deal a blow to Japan.
　韓国は米国やＥＵとＦＴＡで合意した。韓国が中国とのＦＴＡで先行すれば、日本には痛手だ。

The administration of Prime Minister Naoto Kan has put together a new growth strategy that would utilize the vitality of emerging economies in Asia. If it truly seeks to accomplish that aim, the government should expedite free trade talks.
　菅政権は、アジアの活力を取り込む新成長戦略をまとめた。それならば、自由貿易を加速する政治的な行動が求められよう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 19, 2010)
（2010年8月19日01時59分 読売新聞）