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Time - Man of the Year
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Time_Man_of_the_Year_Compact_Publishing_3YX-Disc-1_Compact_Publishing_1993.iso
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1993-04-08
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THE WEEK, Page 17BUSINESSPaddy Power
Japan's rice farmers make a last ditch attempt to block imports
The action, however heartfelt and furious, was probably
futile. Japanese rice farmers drove their tractors down Tokyo's
Ginza to protest the opening of Japan's closed rice market. With
the U.S. and the European Community (except France) now in accord
on agricultural products at the gatt talks, Japan must either
sign on or risk losing trade access. Moreover, Prime Minister
Kiichi Miyazawa has hinted at a shift, warning that Japan "must
avoid at all costs those things which might endanger the
successful conclusion of the GATT talks."
The government claims that the ban exists to ensure
Japan's food security in the event of a disaster. The real
reason is that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is deeply
indebted to the powerful farmers' lobby, which wants to protect
domestic rice prices, which are six times as high as those in
some other countries.