TPP top negotiators to meet in Tokyo www3.nhk.or.jp
Chief negotiators from 11 nations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact will meet in Tokyo this week. They are aiming to reach a broad agreement at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November.
The top TPP officials will meet on Thursday and Friday in Tokyo to discuss items to be shelved from the agreement.
The move comes following the withdrawal of the United States. The 11 countries are trying to put off parts of the agreement, which were added on US requests.
Economic Revitalization Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters on Friday that with the APEC forum 8 weeks away, he hopes the 2-day meeting will become a big step toward achieving great results, while keeping the contents of the pact at high levels.
Japanese government officials say Japan wants to avoid revising the contents of the pact, so the United States could come back to the pact in the future. Japan, as the host nation, is expected to lead the talks so the members can come up with a shortlist of the items to be shelved, while trying to identify each member's interests.
The APEC forum will be held in Vietnam in November.
Published Date:2017-09-18