YOKOHAMA — Japan's stated commitment to free trade at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit over the weekend was a positive message for global retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which might be in position to sell high-quality Japanese produce overseas in the future, Wal-Mart Asia CEO Scott Price said.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said that consultations with members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement would constitute Japan's initial stance on joining the free-trade pact backed by the United States. But its official decision won't be made until June due to strong opposition from farmers.
"(The) prime minister's commitment to work on TPP is a very powerful message that he could send. I'm not sure if everyone understands how critical that first step is," Price told The Japan Times in an interview on Saturday in Yokohama, where he was attending the APEC CEO Summit.