Dec. 2018
Survey of Corporate Attitudes Towards TPP11 (December 2018)
TPP11, 53.4% of companies saying “necessary for Japan”
— ”Restaurants” ranked top for a positive impact on their own company, “agriculture, forestry and fisheries” was top for a negative impact —
Introduction
TPP11 (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership: CPTPP) entered into force on December 30, 2018. Comprehensive trade rules in TPP11 are expected to impact not only other trade negotiations the government proceeds, but also companies which do not conduct overseas transactions, so attention has been paid to the development of TPP11. On the other hand, the U.S., which withdrew from TPP, is requesting bilateral trade negotiations, so negotiations for a U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement on Goods (TAG) will start in January 2019.
Teikoku Databank has conducted a survey of corporate attitudes towards TPP11. This survey was conducted in conjunction with the December 2018 TDB Trends Research, and it is the 4th such survey on TPP and TPP11 following those of December 2010, December 2015, and June 2017.
*Survey period: December 14, 2018 – January 7, 2019; Companies Surveyed: 23,059; Valid Responses: 9,619 (Response Rate: 41.7%).
*Details of this survey can be found on the dedicated Economic Trend Survey HP. (http://www.tdb-di.com).
Primary points of survey results(summary)
- 1 53.4% of companies responded that TPP11 is “necessary for Japan,” which is much higher by 43.7 points than those that responded that TPP is “not necessary” (9.7%). , 24.9% of them think it is “necessary” in the industry to which these companies belong, but companies’ opinions are split in two. Compared to the previous survey (in June 2017) after the ministerial meeting of the 11 countries, companies affirming the need have moderately increased.
- 2 With respect to the impact on their own company, those saying “positive impact” (12.1%) exceeded those saying "negative impact" (4.7%). Those saying “no impact” or "do not know" accounted for 37.6% and 45.5%, respectively. By industry, “restaurants” ranked top (32.6%) for a positive impact, and "agriculture, forestry and fisheries" was top (46.3%) for a negative impact.
- 3 Among companies that assume specific details and impacts, "cost reduction of raw materials" ranked top (39.0%) for positive aspects, followed by “increase in sales and profits” (34.1%), and "export increase" (33.6%) in the range over 30%. "Selling price decline" ranked top (27.7%) for negative aspects, followed by “intensified competition due to increasing new entrants” (24.4%) and “decrease in sale and profits” (16.4%).
- 4 With respect to anticipated trade negotiations, "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)" ranked top at 32.8%, followed by "Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP)" (29.6%), and "Japan-China-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA)” (16.7%). “US-Japan Trade Agreement on Goods (TAG)” stood at 14.3%.