The following e-mail was sent to Brisbanes's Courier Mail Newspaper on 13 Dec 2006, in reponse to news reports that Opposition leader Kevin Rudd was demanding that Japan be made to reduce its protection for its farmers as a condition to Australia agreeing to a Free Trade Agreement with that Country. Copies were also sent to Kevin Ruydd, Bob Brown and Arch Bevis, the Labor MP fro Brisbane.
Dear Editor,
Whilst I haven't always sided with Japan, even in more recent years, Kevin Rudd is wrong to insist that tariff protection for its farmers be ended as part of any "Free Trade agreement" with Japan.
An Island nation like Japan has a right to safeguard supplies of a basic necessity such as food and should not have to depend on imported food supplies in a world which is becoming increasingly unstable and which faces very serious environmental threats.
James Sinnamon
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See, also, Sydney Morning Herald Article of 14 Dec 06, "Japan hedges bets on cutting tariffs"
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Anonymous (not verified)
Sat, 2006-12-30 08:21
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Demand Japan
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