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- <text id=92TT2898>
- <title>
- Dec. 28, 1992: Paddy Power
- </title>
- <history>
- TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1992
- Dec. 28, 1992 What Does Science Tell Us About God?
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>Time Magazine</source>
- <hdr>
- THE WEEK, Page 17
- BUSINESS
- Paddy Power
- </hdr><body>
- <p>Japan's rice farmers make a last ditch attempt to block imports
- </p>
- <p> 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."
- </p>
- <p> 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.
- </p>
-
- </body></article>
- </text>
-
-