Japan should start early talks with the United States, European Union, China and South Korea on abolishing trade barriers so it doesn't put itself at a competitive disadvantage, the head of a panel at the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) said.
Yoji Ohashi, chairman of the committee on promoting economic partnerships for the nation's largest business lobby, said in a recent interview with The Japan Times that he is looking to help the long-protected farm sector become competitive.
"I'm worried that Japan will be left behind if it does not move forward with economic partnership agreements and free-trade agreements with the U.S., EU, China and South Korea," said Ohashi, who is also chairman of All Nippon Airways Co.