[CTC] U.S., Japan seen near deal on Trans-Pacific Partnership entry

[Arthur Stamoulis]

Japan's Amari: Japan and the US in final stage in TPP consultation



Posted on 9 April 2013 - 11:59am
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TOKYO (April 9, 2013): Japanese Economics Minister Akira Amari said on  
Tuesday Japan and the US are in the final stage of consultations about  
Japan joining Trans-Pacific trade talks.

He also said a gap between the US and Japan on sensitive issues such  
as agriculture and automakers had been narrowing.

Japan expressed its commitment last month to join the Trans-Pacific  
Partnership (TPP) and is waiting for a formal decision by the 11  
current members, which could come this month.

Last Friday, the Japanese government set up a task force to speed up  
talk with the TPP member nations. The task force started with 65  
government officials but will expand to about 100, including experts  
from the private sector such as lawyers.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said on Monday he supported  
Japan's bid to join trade talks in the Asia-Pacific region that would  
create the world's largest free trade zone.

New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser said it was possible that  
Japan's bid would be approved when trade ministers from the 21-member  
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meet in Indonesia on April  
20-21.

Other countries in the trade talks include Canada, Australia, Chile,  
Peru, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. The addition of the world's third- 
largest economy would expand the pact to cover nearly 40% of the  
world's economic output. – Reuters
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