U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said Monday he hopes that Japan will make a further compromise to pave the way for concluding Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government considers the TPP as one of pillars of its growth strategy, Froman noted, while praising efforts by Akira Amari, minister in charge of TPP talks.
The challenges are “to translate the bold vision that Prime Minister Abe has laid out into similarly ambitious objectives,” Froman said in an interview held at the end of a three-day ministerial meeting of the 12 TPP-negotiating economies in Sydney.
Asked about whether Japan has made bold decisions in talks related to the TPP, Froman replied “not yet,” pinning hopes on further compromises by Tokyo, especially in negotiations on tariffs on Japan’s key farm products.
Broad accord may be delayed
A broad agreement on a TPP pact may be delayed until next year, Amari indicated Monday.
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