Chief negotiators from 11 TPP nations to start talks in Japan
July 12, 2017
TOKYO- Chief negotiators from Japan and 10 other countries will hold talks near Tokyo from Wednesday to start concrete discussions for realizing an early effectuation of their Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement without the presence of the United States.
Former Japanese Ambassador to Italy Kazuyoshi Umemoto, who became Japan's chief TPP negotiator last week, will chair the two-day meeting in the town of Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture.
This will be the first time for Japan to host a TPP-related meeting, sources familiar with the situation said.
Participants are set to hold bilateral talks on Friday.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Umemoto said he wants to move the discussions forward to put the TPP into force early.
At a ministerial meeting held in Vietnam in May, the 11 countries agreed to seek ways to effectuate the TPP as soon as possible.
The current TPP members are expected to keep largely intact the existing 12-nation agreement. But if demands for reviewing market-opening commitments that have already been made gain ground, the TPP cannot go into force soon, observers said.
The 12 countries including United States signed the TPP in February last year. But US President Donald Trump pulled out of the deal in January. (Jiji Press)
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