PRESIDENT'S GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND TRADE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001448 SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/TPP/MTA CVOLTMER STATE ALSO FOR EEB/TPP/ABT GCLEMENTS AND EEB/TPP MLURIE USDA FOR FAS CRIKER E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018 TAGS: EAGR ETRD TBIO EAID PREL JA SUBJECT: PRESIDENT'S GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY AND TRADE INITIATIVE REF: A. STATE 52628 ¶B. STATE 53346 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) As requested in refs, EMIN met with Japanese Foreign Ministry Director General Yoichi Otabe May 22 and delivered the points reinforcing those made in the President's food policy security address and also regarding the important role agbiotech needs to be allowed to play in increasing agricultural productivity. Given Otabe's role as Japan's Foreign Affairs Sous Sherpa, he also noted DNSA Price's May 19 letter to Japan's Sherpa, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kohno. ¶2. (C) Otabe appreciated receiving the points and inquired about which other governments the USG is approaching in following up on the initiative. Regarding the points on the need to conclude the Doha Development Agenda, Otabe reiterated that Japan remains committed to completing the DDA. He noted governments have said Japan needs to do more on agricultural market access to help bring the Doha talks to a successful conclusion, but he added that the U.S. needs to act further on ag subsidy questions. EMIN reminded Otabe of the United States 2005 initiative on agricultural subsidies and reiterated the point contained in ref A. On biotech, Otabe said the issue had proven difficult in the Genoa and Kananaskis G-8 Summits and while discussions remain underway among those preparing for the Lake Toya G-8, he was not certain how far they would be able to go. ¶3. (C) As requested in ref B, AgAttache met with Tadashi Sato of the Ministry of Agriculture's Staple Food Department on May 21. The Food Department is responsible for administering imports and managing stocks of rice and other grains imported under Japan's URUGUAY Round commitments. Sato was particularly interested in the United States position relative to export restrictions as Japan has been a key proponent of limiting export restrictions under the WTO. He was aware of the scope and type of U.S. aid offered and is interested to learn more about the launch of an international effort to address the systemic causes of the global food crisis. SCHIEFFER