ＴＰＰと国会　承認ありきは許されぬ

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 6
EDITORIAL: Abe must not be allowed to rush Diet approval of TPP accord
（社説）ＴＰＰと国会　承認ありきは許されぬ

The Lower House has started deliberating a draft approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) accord and a bill to revise all 11 related laws.
　環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）の承認案と、関連する１１本の法律を一括改正する法案の審議が、衆院で始まった。

Ever since the World Trade Organization fell into dysfunction, bilateral and multilateral agreements on free trade and economic cooperation have propelled market liberalization.
　世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）が機能不全に陥った後、二国間や多国間の自由貿易・経済連携協定が自由化の推進役となっている。

The TPP, in particular, has 12 signatories from the Asia-Pacific region, which leads the global economy, and their combined gross domestic product represents 40 percent of the world total. Japan, which continues to languish under sluggish economic growth, pins considerable hopes on what this accord could bring.
中でもＴＰＰには世界経済を引っ張るアジア太平洋の１２カ国が参加し、国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）で世界の４割を占める。低成長が続く日本にとって、その効果への期待は小さくない。

The TPP is called a “21st century-type” accord because it covers matters concerning intellectual property, the environment and labor, in addition to the elimination and reduction of tariffs and the liberalization of capital investment. But since the accord is expected to affect many industry sectors and the people’s lives in all sorts of ways, grave concerns and questions have been raised, not to mention stiff opposition.
　ＴＰＰが扱うのは関税の撤廃・引き下げや投資の自由化などのほか、知的財産や環境・労働分野に及び、「２１世紀型」と呼ばれる。さまざまな産業や国民生活への影響が予想され、不安や疑問、反対論も根強い。

The Diet, which represents the people, has the responsibility to address these concerns through debate. We hope each political party will base its stance and proposals on the protection of consumer interests.
　審議を通じてそうした声に向き合うことが、国民の代表としての国会の責任だろう。各党は「消費者の利益」を基準に、是非と対策を考える姿勢で審議を尽くしてほしい。

One disturbing factor is the unmistakable eagerness of the government and the ruling coalition to approve the TPP during the current Diet session.
　気がかりなのは、今の国会でＴＰＰを承認しようという与党と政府の前のめりな姿勢だ。

All TPP 12 signatories signed the accord in February, but each country must secure the approval of its national assembly and complete all necessary procedures for the accord to take effect. Under the TPP rules, the completion of such procedures by the United States and Japan--the two leading nations--is indispensable.
　参加１２カ国は２月にＴＰＰに署名したが、発効には各国が議会承認を含めて必要な手続きを終えねばならない。ＴＰＰの規定では、２大国である米国と日本の手続き完了が不可欠だ。

But the United States is currently in the middle of its primaries season, and the front-runner presidential candidates--both Democratic and Republican--are negative toward the TPP. The prevalent thinking in America is that Congress will not approve the accord until after election day in November.
　大統領選の最中にある米国では、民主、共和両党とも有力候補はこぞってＴＰＰに否定的。議会承認は１１月の大統領選後、との見方がもっぱらである。

The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe positions the TPP as one of the pillars of its “Abenomics” economic policy. The prime minister enthuses, “Japan will take the lead to speed up the accord’s approval.” But hasty Diet deliberations must not be allowed.
　安倍政権はＴＰＰをアベノミクスの柱の一つと位置づける。「日本が率先して発効への機運を高める」と意気込むが、拙速な審議は許されない。

And if Abe is hoping to quickly settle this matter in view of the Upper House election this summer and the possibility of holding a Lower House election on the same day, he has his priorities completely wrong.
夏の参院選や、取りざたされる衆参同日選をにらみ、懸案を片付けておこうとの思惑なら本末転倒だ。

The main opposition Democratic Party is poised to focus on issues related to the reduction and elimination of tariffs on farm and fisheries products.
　民進党は、農林水産分野の関税撤廃・引き下げ問題を中心に追及する構えだ。

Three years ago, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee of the Upper House as well as the Lower House voted to ensure careful handling of this matter regarding rice and four other items of greatest importance. But the Democratic Party must refrain from obsessing on whether these five items are protected under the TPP accord. The party must try not to lose sight of the big picture.
　衆参の農林水産委員会は３年前、コメなど重要５項目に十分に配慮するよう決議している。ＴＰＰの協定案が５項目を「聖域」として守っているかを突くだけでなく、幅広い視点からの議論を心がけてほしい。

Ample information is necessary to ensure thorough discussions. The government has finally agreed to disclose records of meetings between U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Akira Amari, former minister in charge of TPP negotiations, but the documents have been extensively blacked out. The government must do its best to disclose information.
　徹底した審議には十分な情報が必要だ。交渉で主役を演じた甘利明・前ＴＰＰ担当相とフロマン・米通商代表部代表の会談資料について、政府はようやく開示に応じることを決めたが、黒塗りだという。できるだけ情報公開に努めるべきだ。

We also demand anew that Amari explain the bribery suspicion he is under. If this is difficult now because of his poor health, this is all the more reason not to rush into approving the TPP accord.
　甘利氏が金銭授受疑惑について説明責任を果たすことも、改めて求めたい。体調がすぐれず難しいなら、なおさらＴＰＰの承認を急ぐべきではない。

米国景気回復の兆しか？

citibank政府貸付金返済のめど、景気回復のきざしか？
スラチャイの取引銀行はcitibank それでこの銀行の動向を気にしていました。
つぶれたら困るな、どうしようかと考えていました。
バンクオブアメリカが政府よりの援助貸付金を完済したのに続き､
シティーバンクも概ね完済のめどがついたそうです。
まだ不安材料も残っていますが。
オバマ大統領は主用銀行首脳人をホワイトハウスに召還、
中小企業への貸し渋りをやめるように指示した。
自分たちの利益確保に躍起となっている裕福な貸付銀行家に対しては、
強烈な非難の声を浴びせ掛けた。
（スラチャイ）

(info. this morning sent by washington post.)

Citi Steps Up Effort To Repay Bailout Cash

Citigroup is close to reaching a deal to repay taxpayer money, reports the New York Times . Nothing is final, but bank executives are eager to prove Citi can stand on its own and no longer needs government help. Getting rid of the $45 billion in government money it has received, not to mention the numerous other forms of assistance, isn't going to be a simple process. According to the NYT , bank officials want to raise around $18 billion this week, and then they hope to get approval to redeem at least $20 billion of preferred stock the government received. In addition, Citigroup would exit a federal insurance policy on troubled assets so that the bank would be responsible for any losses. The Treasury Department would then sell its 34 percent stake in Citigroup through "a series of large stock sales over the next several months to institutional investors," reports the NYT . The Wall Street Journal hears something slightly different and reports that Citigroup will reach a deal to pay back some, but not all, of its bailout money and predicts the government is likely to hold on to a stake in the banking giant for the near future. Regardless, it's clear Citigroup is eager to get out from under the government's thumb as quickly as possible, a desire that suddenly gained more urgency after Bank of America won approval to pay back the government cash. Executives hate the fact that Citigroup is the last major Wall Street bank to hold such deep ties to Washington. Meanwhile, the president will meet with the heads of the 12 biggest banks at the White House to push them to provide more loans to small businesses and homeowners. Last night, Obama upped the populist rhetoric against Wall Street and criticized "fat cat bankers" for worrying so much about their bonuses when Americans are still suffering from the recession.

Read original story in The New York Times | Monday, Dec. 14, 2009

news head line from Washington Post

５番のフィリピンの記事、気になりますね。
何が起こったのでしょうか。
今から読んでみます。

オバマ大統領はアフガン派兵につき相当悩んでいますね。
撤退する方向で決断して欲しいですが、関係省庁、軍部はアフガン派兵増強をもとめていますからね。
ベトナム戦争の二の舞にならなければいいのですが。

（スラチャイ）

President Likely To Announce Troop Decision Next Week White House says it will come "within days." Some say Dec. 1, but officials insist nothing has been decided. Key officials are preparing to testify before Congress. Read original story in Reuters | Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 One in Four Homeowners Are Underwater About 23 percent of homeowners owe more on their mortgages than what their house is worth, which could slow a housing recovery. Read original story in The Wall Street Journal | Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 Israel Getting Close To Prisoner Exchange Deal The prime minister threw cold water on speculation by cautioning that no agreement has been reached yet, but there are growing reports of progress in negotiations that would release Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit, who was captured and taken to Gaza in 2006. Read original story in Haaretz | Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 Why Has Obama Abandoned Basketball for Golf? He's not very good at it but has played more than his predecessor since taking office. Some think it's about time he dropped the clubs and got back on the court. Read original story in The Wall Street Journal | Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 Death Toll in Philippines Rises to 46 Two southern provinces were put under emergency rule as more bodies were found in a shallow grave. Might be the world's worst mass-killing of journalists. Read original story in The Associated Press | Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 Sophisticated Recruiting Network Sent Young Americans to Somalia When federal officials unsealed terrorism-related charges against eight men yesterday, they revealed how 20 young Somali Americans from Minnesota were recruited to fight in a Somali militia. Read original story in The New York Times | Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 Fed To Banks: It's Payback Time The Federal Reserve asked nine U.S. banks to outline how they plan to repay the government. Read original story in Bloomberg | Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 Iran Steps Up Propaganda Campaign In an attempt to counter the opposition that grew out of last summer's presidential election, the government has launched a "soft war," an ambitious effort to get its message out to the general public, including children. Read original story in The New York Times | Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 U.S. Will Go To Copenhagen With Emissions Target After taking criticism from the international community, the White House announced it would go to the climate talks next month with a proposed target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Read original story in The Guardian | Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 Keeping Feelings Bottled Up Can Kill You Men who refuse to speak up about frustrations at work are much more likely to suffer a heart attack. Read original story in Reuters | Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 Madoff Trustee Bills $4 Million Per Month The trustee hired to recover assets for the Ponzi schemer's victims asks for $22.1 million for five months of his law firm's time. Read original story in Bloomberg News | Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 For "Avatar," Linguistics Professor Invents Entire Language A USC professor has spent four years developing a 1,000-word alien dialect for James Cameron's much-anticipated 3-D epic. Read original story in The Los Angeles Times | Monday, Nov. 23, 2009

News from Washington Post

Washington Post 社より今朝届いた速報

サウスカロライナ州知事の不倫の記事
どの国もあまり変わりませんね。
日本でも総理大臣がこれで辞任したことがありましたね。
新聞記者の執拗な調査取材で州民の血税を無駄遣いしていることが発覚。
州の条例で禁止されているファーストクラス（航空機）の使用など多数が発覚して、
現在調査中。
知事の弁護士は問題ないと発言している。

News Alert
01:56 PM EST Monday, November 23, 2009

S.C. governor faces 37 ethics charges he broke state laws

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has been under scrutiny since he vanished
for five days over the summer, reappearing to tearfully admit to an
extramarital affair with a woman he later called his "soul mate."

For more information, visit washingtonpost.com -
↓
http://link.email.washingtonpost.com/r/ZTVJ68/5BMNE/KRTP16/7K7EOI/5MVT2/9A/t