Japan | Surprise Abe Resignation Could Impact Beef Access | Two days into the...

Japan

Surprise Abe Resignation Could Impact Beef Access

Two days into the plenary session of the Diet and during a hastily-called press conference Wednesday (Sept. 12), Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation. The surprise action was criticized not only by opposition parties, but also some colleagues who called the resignation “totally irresponsible.”

Abe had remained in his post despite a major defeat for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Upper House elections in July and a string of scandals involving several cabinet members. He had recently announced that he intended to seek an extension of the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of coalition forces in Afghanistan, which drew fire from many in the Diet.

The LDP is expected to announce its intention to elect a new leader Sept. 14 and that election for prime minister could be held as soon as Sept. 19. Since the next prime minister will immediately face a difficult political situation, no one is proactively seeking the position and a candidate likely will be decided through negotiation and consensus within the party.

Before Abe’s resignation, it was thought that the next prime minister would be Taro Aso, the Foreign Minister and Secretary General of the LDP, but given the current political climate, it is doubtful he wants the job.

While it’s difficult to predict how the cabinet might change in light of the resignation, another reshuffling of the cabinet could disrupt the national administration current cabinet members may remain in their posts in the near term to provide stability. U.S.-Japanese relations remain important for the LDP, but the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is strongly opposed to the Indian Ocean refueling mission that expires in November.

As for U.S. beef, USMEF-Tokyo notes the political climate will depend on how the DPJ decides to position itself on the issues. U.S. beef is mentioned in the DPJ ‘manifesto’ and may become a point on which the DPJ can criticize the LDP at any time. If this is the case, an announcement on negotiations with the United States to raise restrictions from 20 moa to 30 moa, which was expected to take place at the end of the Diet session, but were almost certainly delayed even before Abe’s resignation due to differences between U.S. and Japanese negotiators. USMEF indicates there is currently strong support for a general election, which would push gaining greater access to this market into mid-2008.

Japan

Surprise Abe Resignation Could Impact Beef Access

Two days into the plenary session of the Diet and during a hastily-called press conference Wednesday (Sept. 12), Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his resignation. The surprise action was criticized not only by opposition parties, but also some colleagues who called the resignation “totally irresponsible.”

Abe had remained in his post despite a major defeat for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Upper House elections in July and a string of scandals involving several cabinet members. He had recently announced that he intended to seek an extension of the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of coalition forces in Afghanistan, which drew fire from many in the Diet.

The LDP is expected to announce its intention to elect a new leader Sept. 14 and that election for prime minister could be held as soon as Sept. 19. Since the next prime minister will immediately face a difficult political situation, no one is proactively seeking the position and a candidate likely will be decided through negotiation and consensus within the party.

Before Abe’s resignation, it was thought that the next prime minister would be Taro Aso, the Foreign Minister and Secretary General of the LDP, but given the current political climate, it is doubtful he wants the job.

While it’s difficult to predict how the cabinet might change in light of the resignation, another reshuffling of the cabinet could disrupt the national administration current cabinet members may remain in their posts in the near term to provide stability. U.S.-Japanese relations remain important for the LDP, but the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is strongly opposed to the Indian Ocean refueling mission that expires in November.

As for U.S. beef, USMEF-Tokyo notes the political climate will depend on how the DPJ decides to position itself on the issues. U.S. beef is mentioned in the DPJ ‘manifesto’ and may become a point on which the DPJ can criticize the LDP at any time. If this is the case, an announcement on negotiations with the United States to raise restrictions from 20 moa to 30 moa, which was expected to take place at the end of the Diet session, but were almost certainly delayed even before Abe’s resignation due to differences between U.S. and Japanese negotiators. USMEF indicates there is currently strong support for a general election, which would push gaining greater access to this market into mid-2008.