Japanese Citizen Groups Urge the Japanese Government to Remove Wastes from JTEPA, to Seek National Self-Sufficiency in Waste Management, and to End the Strategy for Export to Developing Countries
Japanese Citizen Groups' Press Release
2 April 2007 (Tokyo) –
Japanese citizen groups tackling the environmental, health, human rights, and agriculture issues sent a letter today calling for elimination of tariff reduction provisions for hazardous wastes from the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) to the Japanese Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of the Environment. It is said that the Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont will sign the JTEPA with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his visit to Japan from 2nd through 5th of April. The Japanese citizen groups, however, suggested in the letter the Japanese government end its strategy to export hazardous wastes in the name of a material cycle and seek national self-sufficiency in the waste management.
Japan has signed the bilateral economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, and is currently working on similar agreements with India, Indonesia, Vietnam and other ASEAN member countries. The EPAs which are already concluded list hazardous wastes including medical waste and incinerator ash as tariff elimination or reduction products. This is likely to result in promoting export of hazardous wastes to developing countries, which is strictly controlled under the Basel Convention. Citizens and NGOs in Asian countries have been urging exclusion of hazardous wastes from EPAs.
On February 11, 2007, the Japan’s national foundation day, more than forty NGOs in Asia and North America sent fax and e-mail messages to the Japanese embassies in respective countries expressing their concerns and critique regarding the Japan’s intent to promote free trade in hazardous wastes using free trade agreements (FTAs) and EPAs. This global action was initiated by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alliance (GAIA). Japanese NGOs, following GAIA, released a joint statement urging the Japanese government to remove wastes from the EPAs and sent it to the Prime Minister of Japan, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the Environment, and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.*
* The citizen group joint statement on February 11, 2007 is available for download.
Japanese Citizen Groups Urge the Japanese Government to Remove Wastes from EPAs with Developing Countries and to Seek National Self-Sufficiency in the Waste Management
For more information: Takeshi YASUMA (Citizens Against Chemicals Pollution) can be reached via e-mail (ac7t-ysm@asahi-net.or.jp)
Attachment: The citizen group joint statement on April 2nd, 2007
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