Affirmative Side Constructive Speech
Thank you, Chairperson and Judges. I would like to present my affirmative case.
this resolution, and I’d like to offer two advantages that will result from the proposition.
I affirm
[Advantage 1]
There will be more cheap foreign rice.
[Observation]
Foreign rice is expensive because of the high tariff on rice. The price of Japanese rice is
15,000 yen per 60 kilograms, whereas the price of American rice is 6,000 yen per 60 kilograms
without tariff. The tariff on rice, however, is 341 yen per kilogram, which makes it 20,460 yen per
60 kilograms. This means that the tariff alone exceeds the price of Japanese rice. Even if the price
of American rice was zero, it would still be more expensive than Japanese rice, and American rice
would not be imported to Japan.
[Effect]
If the tariff is removed, there will be more cheap foreign rice in the Japanese market.
Restaurants and convenience stores will use foreign rice, which will reduce food cost and prices for
consumers.
According to research by Mizuho Bank, gyudon restaurants, yakiniku restaurants and family
restaurants will reduce the menu price by about 10% and other restaurants by 3%. Some companies
such as Matsuya Foods and Kappa Create have already begun using foreign rice at some of their
restaurants. Once the tariff is removed, there will be more restaurants that will use foreign rice.
[Significance]
There will be more competition among restaurants and convenience stores.
benefit restaurants, but also consumers.
It will not only
[Advantage 2]
The Japanese rice industry will be more competitive, and full-time farmers will acquire
more land for rice farming.
[Observation]
The Japanese rice industry is declining, and one of the reasons is the high tariff on rice.
Also, Japanese rice is not globally competitive due to the high tariff on foreign rice.
[Effect]
If full-time farmers acquire more land for rice farming, it will decrease the cost of rice
farming and increase their income.
Masayoshi Homma, a professor at the Graduate School of Tokyo University, argues that if
the government gives direct-payment subsidies to full-time farmers with a certain amount of land,
full-time farmers will acquire more arable land from part-time farmers. If full-time farmers acquire
more land, it will decrease the cost of rice farming and increase their income. Farmers who have
0.5 to 1 hectares would make 20,000 yen. If they own 15 to 20 hectares they would make 10
million yen
[Significance]
The Japanese rice industry is suffering from problems such as a decreasing number of
farmers and the aging population. If their income increases, more people will want to become rice
farmers. It will not only solve these problems, but also make Japanese rice farming more
internationally competitive.
It is crucial to note that the removal of the tariff will not only increase Japanese rice farmers’
income but also helps the industry as a whole.
Now I stand ready for cross examination.
Thank you.