[CTC] U.S. Undecided On Whether To Offer State Procurement In U.S.-EU Talks

[Arthur Stamoulis]

http://kgmi.com/White-House-formally-notifies-Congress-of-Japan-fr/11461903?newsId=208060

White House formally notifies Congress of Japan free-trade talks
POSTED : WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2013 04:24PM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's administration on  
Wednesday notified Congress it will start free-trade talks with Japan,  
after more than a year of consultations with Tokyo over joining U.S.- 
led negotiations on a regional free-trade pact.

"The participation of Japan, a major U.S. trading partner as well as  
close ally, further increases the economic significance of a TPP  
(Trans-Pacific Partnership) Agreement," acting U.S. Trade  
Representative Demetrios Marantis said in a letter to congressional  
leaders.

The 90-day notification was expected after U.S. and Japanese  
negotiators reached a deal on April 12 on the terms of Japan's entry  
into the TPP talks, which are now in their fourth year.

The United States and the 10 other countries already involved in the  
TPP talks on Saturday formally approved Japan's entry into the  
negotiations at a meeting of regional trade ministers in Indonesia.

The White House sees the TPP pact as part of its economic rebalancing  
toward Asia. It also plans to launch free-trade talks with the 27- 
nation European Union in coming months.

Countries around the world are moving increasingly toward regional  
free-trade agreements in the absence of any progress toward a  
comprehensive world trade deal.

Detroit-based auto makers, particularly Ford Motor Co, have lobbied  
against Japan joining the TPP talks.

They say the agreement will open the door for more imports from Japan,  
without tearing down barriers that they say keep U.S. autos out of  
Japan's market.

(Reporting by Doug Palmer; Editing by Sandra Maler and Mohammad Zargham)


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