The Trans-Pacific Partnership seems to be getting almost a unanimous vote of support from the U.S. livestock sector. Gary Crawford has a story about various folks testifying before a panel supporting TPP.
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And while many in agriculture continue to urge Congress to pass TPP, the U.S. is not the only country where momentum for getting the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement passed has been slowed by politics. The Japanese government has also slowed its process to approve the deal despite formal debate being started in the legislature.
Their current session ends on June first, and sources say lawmakers are unlikely to vote on the TPP for a number of reasons. Politico says an April earthquake in the country has diverted legislative efforts to recovery, taking attention off TPP.
Election politics are also in play as an election is set for July in the upper house of Japan’s bicameral legislature. Some lawmakers suggest the Prime Minister may want to see parallel movement on TPP in the U.S. and hopes ratification will take place in a similar timeframe to the U.S.