上周被任命的农业大臣武部新，上任伊始便面临马铃薯问题，因为其选区内反对增加从美国进口马铃薯的声音日益高涨。武部是六届众议院议员，也是前农业大臣之子。
Agriculture minister Arata Takebe, appointed last week, begins his term with a potato problem on his hands, as opposition is growing among his constituents to an increase in potato imports from the United States. Takebe is a six-term Lower House member and the son of a former agriculture minister.
他代表的选区位于北海道，该地区供应日本约80%的国产马铃薯，且反对美国推动马铃薯进口的呼声在此地不断升温。
“我理解国内农民对增加美国马铃薯进口存在许多担忧，政府将在谈判中坚持立场，”武部于10月15日表示。
He represents a district in Hokkaido, which supplies about 80% of Japan’s domestically grown potatoes and where opposition to the U.S. potato push is growing.“I understand there are many worries from domestic farmers regarding the import of more U.S. potatoes, and the government will take a firm stance in its negotiations,” Takebe said on Oct. 15.