Japanese Finance Minister, Key TPP Trade Negotiator, Resigns Amid Bribery Charges

A key Japanese figure in the benchmark Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement unexpectedly resigned amid bribery charges Thursday in what the BBC’s Mariko Oi described as “possibly the biggest scandal the Abe administration has faced.”   Japanese finance minister, key trade negotiator, involved in $101,000 payment scandal, says money was mishandled by staff, should have been a “campaign contribution” The announcement Thursday that Japan’s Economy Minister Akira Amari is resigning is reported as a “significant blow” to the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The head of the Japanese economic system stands accused of taking money and gifts…