However, I see Mr. I consider this a virtual destruction of our country. First, with regards to TPP, we are currently in the process of gathering information and holding talks with countries concerned. What you are doing is federalizing Japan as a US client state. Chairman Thank you, Mr.{/INSERTKEYS}{/PARAGRAPH} Seven other countries: Singapore, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Vietnam and Malaysia: account for another 5 percent of the GDP. Signing TPP with the US which will virtually alienate China and other countries is tantamount to destroying our country. I say, Japan should rather be cooperating with the US in making the world a better place. We are not necessarily focusing on TPP alone. Our trade representatives are seriously involved in negotiations, trying to hammer out ways to strike a good balance. My initial concern is, over the past one plus decade, Japan has been way behind other countries like South Korea, in terms of forming economic partnership. Agricultural reforms needs to be done and we need to do it well. Australia accounts for 5 percent. For instance, we are negotiating EPA with Australia. The US accounts for approximately 70 percent of the world GDP, while Japan accounts for about 20 percent. Yesterday, the Foreign Minister called for the early resumption of EPA talks with South Korea. Tanaka is asking me the question just as if TPP were a done-deal and we were plotting something out of it. As I said during my representative questioning at the plenary session of the diet last month, Japan should make up for its shortcomings by changing itself for the better. Kan, the pie chart and this question had been submitted to you ahead of the time. But Mr. Let me explain the chart for the sake of the radio listeners. This is my understanding. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister talked about the early signing of EPA with Australia. With this note, I conclude my questioning. TPP is one of them, which is true. Then, my question will be, why are you not ready to negotiate a fine-tuned FTA with the US just like South Korea has done. And, Mr. Kan, you just made a wimpy statement, but Brazil, India, South Korea and China are also part of the Pacific Rim. {PARAGRAPH}{INSERTKEYS}Tanaka, please take the podium. So, let me hear your opinion. Tanaka is apparently making assumptions ahead of the time. Please take a look at this pie chart, which compared GDP figures of nine TPP participating countries plus Japan. You said the agreement will have a tremendous, positive impact on the economy, did you not? Thank you. But these countries have FTS or EPA, but NOT TPP with the US. PM Naoto Kan Mr.
