Groups Say No to Japanese "Toxic" Free Trade Agreements

Environmental and public health groups from various countries, including India lodged a collective protest against Japanese free trade agreements (FTAs), which they assert is part of Japan's sinister plan to establish waste colonies in Asia.

In a "fax/e-mail action" held in conjunction with the "Kenkoku Kenen-no-hi" or Japan's National Foundation Day, the civil society groups sent letters to Japanese ambassadors, the Secretariats of the Basel Convention, Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), other Multilateral Environmental Agreements, as well as the Human Rights Commission Special Rapporteur on Toxic Wastes, to voice their anxiety and objection to bilateral FTAs that blatantly encourages trade in hazardous wastes.

"We join our Asian neighbors, including our friends in Japan, in standing firm against the illegal and immoral scheme to make our countries dumping grounds for Japanese toxic wastes, technologies and obsolete end-of-life products," said Waste Not Asia coalition in release.

The Manila-based Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) described the "fax action" as part of a vigilant campaign to prevent efforts by more powerful countries to exploit nations that are poorer and with weaker regulations and social infrastructures into becoming disposal sites for toxics. \n\n \nTo emphasize its point, the groups cited the case of the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), which contains disturbing provisions that will allow unhindered entry of globally controlled or prohibited wastes and substances from Japan, including extremely toxic materials with heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins. As Japan marks its National Foundation Day, the groups asked the ambassadors and international bodies to relay their demands to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the concerned ministries for the removal of waste trade liberalization and other exploitative provisions in the JPEPA and other FTAs that Japan plans to forge with other countries.

The groups further seek Japan's immediate ratification of the Basel Convention's Ban Amendment, which prohibits the export of toxic wastes from developed to developing countries for any reason. Japan signed bilateral FTAs with ASEAN member states such as Singapore in 2002, Malaysia in 2004 and the Philippines in 2006 and is currently working on similar agreements, in various stages, with India, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam and other countries.

The Manila-based Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) described the "fax action" as part of a vigilant campaign to prevent efforts by more powerful countries to exploit nations that are poorer and with weaker regulations and social infrastructures into becoming disposal sites for toxics.

To emphasize its point, the groups cited the case of the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), which contains disturbing provisions that will allow unhindered entry of globally controlled or prohibited wastes and substances from Japan, including extremely toxic materials with heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins.

As Japan marks its National Foundation Day, the groups asked the ambassadors and international bodies to relay their demands to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the concerned ministries for the removal of waste trade liberalization and other exploitative provisions in the JPEPA and other FTAs that Japan plans to forge with other countries. The groups further seek Japan's immediate ratification of the Basel Convention's Ban Amendment, which prohibits the export of toxic wastes from developed to developing countries for any reason. Japan signed bilateral FTAs with ASEAN member states such as Singapore in 2002, Malaysia in 2004 and the Philippines in 2006 and is currently working on similar agreements, in various stages, with India, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam and other countries.

Japanese Ambassador in India was also sent a letter on 10th February, 2006.