Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held a meeting Thursday with lawmakers from his Democratic Party of Japan in an effort to ease their opposition to Japan taking part in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.
It was the first time Noda met with DPJ Diet members since returning from a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Honolulu earlier this month, where he informed the international community of Japan's desire to join the TPP free-trade pact talks.
The meeting was requested by former farm minister Masahiko Yamada and his allies, who fiercely oppose Japan's entry to the TPP negotiations. (Japan Times)
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