新任农林水产大臣武部良表示，必须就解除美国鲜马铃薯进口禁令的计划举行彻底的“科学磋商”。
New agriculture minister Arata Takebe has said that thorough “scientific discussions” must be held on a plan to lift the ban on imports of fresh potatoes from the United States.
他在周一接受时事通讯社采访时还表示，磋商将需要“相当长的时间”。
The discussions will take “considerable time,” he also said in an interview with Jiji Press on Monday.
许多日本生产者对该计划表示担忧，其中包括北海道的生产者。北海道是武部的选区所在，约占国产马铃薯产量的80%。
Many Japanese producers have expressed concerns about the plan, including those in Hokkaido, which includes Takebe’s electoral district and accounts for about 80% of domestic potato production. The plan “should progress after thorough scientific and technical discussion,” he said.
他说：“该计划应在彻底的科学和技术磋商后推进。我知道美方有强烈期待，但如果没有充分磋商或双方均可接受的协议，进口禁令不会解除。”武部表示，磋商将涉及21种需要考虑防止扩散措施的病虫害的可行风险管理，并将需要“相当长的时间”才能获得双方认可。关于大米，他说供需状况正在大幅缓和。
“I know the (U.S.) side has strong expectations, but the ban on imports will not be lifted without sufficient discussions or an agreement acceptable to both sides.”Takebe said that the discussions will cover workable risk management on 21 pests and diseases for which measures to prevent their spread need to be considered, and that it will take “considerable time” to gain mutual acceptance. Regarding rice, he said that the supply-demand conditions are easing considerably.
武部拒绝直接评论大米价格，称价格由私营部门交易决定。但他强调，重要的是将价格引导至既能让生产者再投资并持续生产、又为消费者所能接受的水平。
Takebe declined to comment directly on rice prices, saying they are determined through private-sector transactions. But he emphasized the importance of bringing them to levels that allow producers to reinvest and continue production while remaining acceptable to consumers.
武部说：“储备米的作用是为应对供应短缺做准备。”并补充称，政府将在考虑供需状况的前提下，适当且系统地回购大米，以补充作为主食的大米减少的储备。
“The role of stockpiled rice is to prepare for supply shortages,” Takebe said, adding that the government will buy back rice to shore up its decreased stockpiles for the staple food appropriately and systematically while taking into account the supply-demand situation. He denied a weekly magazine report alleging that he had paid a photographer involved in his election campaign.
他否认了一份周刊杂志的报道，该报道指控他向参与其竞选活动的摄影师支付了报酬。
The photographer “did not act as a campaign worker,” Takebe said.
武部说：“该摄影师并未作为竞选工作人员行事。我从未给予摄影师对我网络竞选策略的裁量权，也从未为此类工作支付过报酬。”
“I’ve never given the photographer discretion over my online campaign strategy, nor have I paid him for any such work.”