. >> nhk world's political commentator, masayo nakajima joints us now. opponents insist it's too early to join the talks. what do you make of the timing of the move? >> well, the prime minister wanted to make the decision before he meets u.s. president barack obama this weekend on the sidelines of the apec forum. the economies of the other countries expected to join the tpp are also of japan and the u.s. so the tpp can be seen as a free trade agreement between the two nations. the obama administration has been putting pressure on noda, because the tpp has u.s. could enhance u.s. exports, especially on other agriculture. u.s. officials have indicated that the u.s. will no longer look, regard japan as a reliable partner if noda does not demonstrate some goodwill. obama faces a tight race in his battle for re-election next year. he wants to eliminate as many obstacles as possible beforehand. the japanese prime minister's office, meantime, has had a revolving door of prime ministers in prevent years. so noda wants to shore up japan's relationship with the un

. >> nhk world's political commentator, masayo nakajima joints us now. what do you make of the timing of the move? >> well, the prime minister wanted to make the decision before he meets u.s. president barack obama this weekend on the sidelines of the apec forum. the economies of the other countries expected to join the tpp are also of japan and the u.s. so the tpp can be seen as a free trade agreement between the two nations. the obama administration has been been putting pressure on noda, because the tpp has u.s. could enhance u.s. exports, especially on other countries. u.s. officials have indicated that the u.s. will no longer look, regard japan as a reliable partner if noda does not demonstrate some goodwill. obama faces a tight race in his battle for re-election next year. he wants to eliminate as many obstacles as possible beforehand. the japanese prime minister's office, meantime, has had a revolving door of prime ministers in prevent years. so noda wants to shore up japan's relationship with the united states, and noda has electoral domestic con