JCP presses government to invoke safeguards to protect domestic towel producers

Japanese Communist Party on October 1 requested the minister of economy,
trade and industry to decide to curb imports of textile products as well as
three agricultural products.

The government is expected to decide whether to go ahead with the
safeguards by October 15. Meanwhile, the percentage of imported textile
products in the Japanese market has risen to 63.4 percent from 14.8 percent
in the last 11 years.

In a meeting with Hiranuma Takeo, minister of economy, trade and
industry, Haruna Naoaki, JCP member of the House of Representatives, said,
"A six-month survey convinces everyone that there is no other way than to
invoke safeguards now."

Tabe Koji, who accompanied JCP Dietmembers as a representative of Imabari
City's towel producers, emphasized that safeguards are essential not only
for towel producers but for citizens' lives because that can be a way to
protect the local economy as a whole." (end)