WAFarmers warns on Japan FTA

A FREE trade agreement (FTA) with Japan is “absolutely pointless” if agriculture is not going to be included, according to WAFarmers president Trevor De Landgrafft. Mr De Landgrafft said WA farmers would oppose any FTA with Japan if Tokyo wants its highly protected agricultural sector out of the deal. Japan Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has agreed to a two-year feasibility study into an FTA with Australia, but made clear that concessions on farming would be difficult. Mr De Landgrafft said considering an FTA that doesn’t include agriculture sent a bad message to the world. “We are still disappointed about the US FTA,” he said. “It set a bad precedent and I hope China and Japan don’t think it will be the same. “An FTA with China has to be dealt with before considering Japan.”