Japan, US to hold TPP talks again in late March

17/03/2014 12:00 - 471 Views

Japan is expected to arrange another round of bilateral working-level talks as early as late March over the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal with the US.

A 2-day working-level meeting in Washington ended on Thursday without the 2 sides narrowing their differences on farm tariffs.

Japan offered to cut tariffs on beef and pork at the meeting.

Beef and pork are among the 5 categories of farm products that Japan wants to be exempt from tariff elimination.

But the US negotiators stood firm on their position that all tariffs should be removed in principle.

Japan aims to reach a broad bilateral agreement before a planned meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Barack Obama in Japan in April.

But some Japanese officials say it will be difficult to reach an agreement with the US before the summit as Japan has already offered the maximum concessions.

Other officials say the TPP talks are likely to drag on unless the 2 countries reach a broad agreement before Obama visits Japan.

Source: NHK