Japan and Australia wrapped a four-day session at the conclusion of a bilateral free trade agreement in Tokyo on recently to exchange views on trade liberalization in a wide range of sectors such as agriculture, automobiles and energy. The result of bilateral negotiations is expected that the tone of the discussions separately on future participation in the negotiations Tokyo Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.
According to sources close to the negotiations, the possibility exists that the items exempted from the tariff reduction as part of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement, before the creation of the PPT can be treated under the agreement through Pacific in the same way, to achieve. But it seems improbable that the both nations concluded a free trade agreement will be reached in the close to upcoming, a Japanese official recommended, saying that there are other matters to resolve.
Australia, a major agricultural exporter and one of the nine countries that are involved in TPP negotiations, has called on Japan to further open its market to beef and other agricultural products, while Tokyo wants the excluded the elimination of tariffs. The exception of wheat and beef from the reduction of tariffs in the negotiations on a free trade agreement with Australia could "touchstone" for Japan the outlook for the release of some agricultural products in the future give negotiations TPP, observers say.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said in a statement it had a "fruitful" talks with his Australian counterpart, who added that he discussed issues of mutual interest relating to agricultural, fishery and industrial products. The both nations also conversed what sort of measures that could put them in order to ensure a stable supply of energy, natural resources and food, and worked on a project of articles related to NAFTA, the statement said. The bilateral meeting was held prior consultation between the two countries on Tuesday to Japan's interests in participating in the TPP negotiations.
Japan, which has declared its intention in November to join the TPP negotiations, you must first obtain approval for participation in the nine countries currently participating in the talks. The government has been sending officials to the nine countries for the pre-consultation. The last round of bilateral talks was 14 Japan and Australia, since negotiations began in April 2007.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
